Genes encoding telomerase protein 1

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides that specifically bind telomerase RNA. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides, and methods of using these molecules.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/751,189 filed Nov. 15, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference now U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,656.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to novel genes encoding polypeptides that comprise a component of the telomerase enzyme complex, as well as to methods of making the genes and polypeptides.

2. Related Art

Many physiological changes occur as humans age. In addition to those observed at the phenotypic level such as change in hair color, appearance of skin, decreased lean body mass, etc., there are many changes at the cellular and biochemical levels. One such change that has been observed is a marked decrease in the length of telomeres in somatic cells as they age (Harley et al., Nature, 345:458-460 [1990]). Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that are localized to the ends of every chromosome, and are necessary for proper chromosome maintenance, replication, and localization of the chromosomes within the cell nucleus.

In most organisms, telomeres are synthesized and maintained by an enzyme known as telomerase. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein composed of RNA and protein components, and both types of components are necessary for activity (see for example, Greider, Annu. Rev. Biochem., 65:337-365 [1996]; Greider et al., in Cellular Aging and Cell Death, Wiley-Liss Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 123-138 [1996]).

Most cells of adult humans do not have telomerase activity; exceptions include, for example, germline tissues (sperm cells and oocytes) and certain blood cells (Greider et al., Cellular Aging and Cell Death, supra). Decreased telomere length correlates well with decreased replicative capacity of cells in culture (referred to as cellular senescence or cell age). It has been postulated that shortened telomeres may be involved in the inability of cells to continue dividing (Harley, supra; Levy et al., J. Mol. Biol., 225:951-960 [1992]; and Harley et al., Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Quantitative Biology, 59:307-315 [1994]), thereby contributing to senescence of the cells.

Recently, it has been shown that the telomeres of one class of white blood cells, called CD28−/CD8+ T-cells, are significantly shorter in AIDS patients as compared with the same cells obtained from healthy persons of the same or similar age (Effros et al., AIDS, 10:17-22 [1996]).

In many human cancerous cells, it has been shown that telomere length does not decrease, and telomerase activity is present, regardless of the age of these cells (Kim et al., Science, 266:2011-2015 [1994]; and Counter et al., EMBO J., 11:1921-1929 [1992]). It has been suggested that inhibition of telomerase in cancer cells might serve to decrease the proliferation of these cells (Harley et al., Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Quantitative Biology, supra; and Greider et al., Cellular Aging and Cell Death, supra).

The RNA component of telomerase in several mammals has been cloned and sequenced (see PCT patent application WO 96/01835, published Jan. 25, 1995; Blasco et al., Science, 269:1267-1270 [1995]; Feng et al., Science, 269:1236-1241 [1995]), and it has been demonstrated that this RNA component is necessary for telomerase activity (Blasco et al., supra; Feng et al., supra; oral presentations at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Conference on Telomeres and Telomerase, Nov. 3-6 1996). In mouse tumor models, an increase in telomerase RNA correlates with increased tumor progression (Blasco et al., Nature Genetics, 12:200-204 [1996]). However, Avilion et al. (Cancer Res., 56:645-650 [1996]) showed that the presence of telomerase RNA in various human tumor tissues and cell lines was not a good predictor of the presence or amount of telomerase activity in these tissues and cell lines.

In ciliates (single celled eukaryotic organisms), it has been found that the protein portion of telomerase is comprised of two distinct polypeptides, termed p80 and p95 (see PCT patent application WO 96/19580, published Jun. 27, 1995; Harrington et al., J. Biol. Chem, 270:8893-8901 [1995]; and Collins et al., Cell, 81:677-686 [1995]). Recently, two telomerase polypeptides of molecular weight 120 kDa and 43 kDa have reportedly been purified in Euplotes, a single-celled eukaryotic organism (Lingner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:10712-10717 [1996]). Prior to the present invention, the protein component or components of mammalian telomerase had not been identified.

Recently, a 347 base pair nucleic acid molecule was deposited in the public database Genbank as accession number H33937. This nucleic acid molecule was apparently identified from rat PC-12 cells that had been treated with NGF (neurotrophic growth factor). No function for this nucleic acid molecule or the protein encoded by it is set forth in the Genbank database information, however, a portion of this molecule has been found to be highly homologous to a region of the mouse telomerase RNA interacting protein 1 (TRIP1) of the present invention.

In view of the devastating effects of cancer and AIDS, there is a need in the art to identify molecules in the human body which may have an important role in the etiology of these diseases, and to manipulate the expression of such molecules in patients suffering from these and related diseases.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides that affect aging and/or proliferation of cells in the human body.

It is a further object to provide methods of altering the level of expression of such nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in the human body.

Other related objects will readily be apparent from a reading of this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a TRIP1 nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1; the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:2; a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or a biologically active fragment thereof; a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide that is at least 70 percent identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4; a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any of the above nucleic acids; and a nucleic acid molecule that is the complement of any of the above nucleic acids.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding amino acids 1-871 of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3.

In one other embodiment, the invention provides vectors comprising the nucleic acids listed above, where the vectors can be amplification or expression vectors, suitable for use in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Also provided are host cells comprising these vectors, wherein the host cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells.

The invention additionally provides a process for producing a TRIP1 polypeptide comprising the steps of:

expressing a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid of claim 1 in a suitable host and isolating the polypeptide, wherein the TRIP1 polypeptide may be SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or amino acids 1-871 of SEQ ID NO:3.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a TRIP1 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3; the polypeptide that is amino acids 1-871 of SEQ ID NO:3; a polypeptide that is at least 70 percent identical to one of these polypeptides, or a polypeptide that is a biologically active fragment of one of these polypeptides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 (A-I) depicts the full length cDNA sequence of human TRIP1 (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 2 (A-I) depicts the full length cDNA sequence of mouse TRIP1 (SEQ ID NO:2).

FIG. 3 (A-C) depicts the putative full length amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) of human TRIP1 as translated from the cDNA sequence.

FIG. 4 (A-C) depicts the putative full length amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) of mouse TRIP1 as translated from the cDNA sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Included in the scope of this invention are TRIP1 (referred to herein as “TRIP1”) polypeptides such as the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, and related biologically active polypeptide fragments and derivatives thereof. Further included within the scope of the present invention are nucleic acid molecules that encode these polypeptides, and methods for preparing the polypeptides. Such molecules may be useful as therapeutic agents in those cases where increasing TRIP1 activity is desired.

In those situations in which TRIP1 activity is to be decreased, such as in cancer cells in which TRIP1 activity is elevated as compared to non-cancerous cells, TRIP1 may serve as a target to identify a molecule which inhibits TRIP1 activity. Techniques that may be useful in identifying such TRIP1 inhibiting molecules are described in detail below. Alternatively, ex vivo or in vivo gene therapy may be employed to administer either TRIP1 anti-sense molecules, or DNA constructs that may serve to disrupt or enhance TRIP1 expression in the cells.

Also included within the scope of the present invention are non-human mammals such as mice, rats, rabbits, goats, or sheep in which the gene (or genes) encoding native TRIP1 has been disrupted (“knocked out”) such that the level of expression of this gene is significantly decreased or completely abolished. Such mammals may be prepared using techniques and methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,032. The present invention further includes non-human mammals such as mice, rats, rabbits, goats, or sheep in which the gene (or genes) encoding the TRIP1 (either the native form of TRIP1 for the mammal or a heterologous TRIP1 gene) is over expressed by the mammal, thereby creating a “transgenic” mammal. Such transgenic mammals may be prepared using well known methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No 5,489,743 and PCT patent application no. WO94/28122, published Dec. 8, 1994.

The term “TRIP1 protein” or “TRIP1 polypeptide” as used herein refers to any protein or polypeptide having the properties described herein for TRIP1, or TRIP1. The small letter in front of the letters “TRIP1”, when used, refers to a TRIP1 polypeptide from a particular mammal, i.e., “hTRIP1” refers to human TRIP1, and “mTRIP1” refers to mouse TRIP1. The TRIP1 polypeptide may or may not have an amino terminal methionine, depending on the manner in which it is prepared. By way of illustration, TRIP1 protein or TRIP1 polypeptide refers to (1) an amino acid sequence encoded by TRIP1 nucleic acid molecules as defined in any of items (a)-(f) below, and biologically active peptide or polypeptide fragments derived therefrom, (2) naturally occurring allelic variants of the TRIP1 gene which result in one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions as compared to the TRIP1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, and/or (3) chemically modified derivatives as well as nucleic acid and or amino acid sequence variants thereof as provided for herein.

As used herein, the term “TRIP1 fragment” refers to a peptide or polypeptide that is less than the full length amino acid sequence of naturally occurring TRIP1 protein but has substantially the same biological activity as TRIP1 polypeptide or TRIP1 protein described above. Such a fragment may be truncated at the amino terminus, the carboxy terminus, and/or internally, and may be chemically modified. Such TRIP1 fragments may be prepared with or without an amino terminal methionine.

As used herein, the term “TRIP1 derivative” or “TRIP1 variant” refers to a TRIP1 polypeptide, protein, or fragment that 1) has been chemically modified, as for example, by addition of one or more polyethylene glycol molecules, sugars, phosphates, or other such molecules not naturally attached to wild-type TRIP1 polypeptide, and/or 2) contains one or more nucleic acid or amino acid sequence substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions as compared to TRIP1 set forth in FIGS. 3 or 4.

As used herein, the terms “biologically active polypeptide” and “biologically active fragment” refer to a TRIP1 peptide or polypeptide in accordance with the above description for TRIP1 that has at least one of the following activities which have been identified for TRIP1: (1) specifically binding to telomerase RNA; and (2) binding to an antibody that is directed to an epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.

As used herein, the term “TRIP1” when used to describe a nucleic acid molecule refers to a nucleic acid molecule or fragment thereof that (a) has the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2; (b) has a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least 70 percent identical, but may be greater than 70 percent, i.e., 80 percent, 90 percent, or even greater than 90 percent identical, to the polypeptide encoded by any of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2; (c) is a naturally occurring allelic variant of (a) or (b); (d) is a nucleic acid variant of (a)-(c) produced as provided for herein;(e) has a sequence that is complementary to (a)-(d); and/or (f) hybridizes to any of (a)-(e) under stringent conditions.

Percent sequence identity can be determined by standard methods that are commonly used to compare the similarity in position of the amino acids of two polypeptides. By way of example, using a computer program such as BLAST or FASTA, the two polypeptides for which the percent sequence identity is to be determined are aligned for optimal matching of their respective amino acids (the “matched span”, which can include the full length of one or both sequences, or a pre-determined portion of one or both sequences). Each computer program provides a “default” opening penalty and a “default” gap penalty, and a scoring matrix such as PAM 250. A standard scoring matrix (see Dayhoff et al., in: Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, supp.3 [1978]) can be used in conjunction with the computer program. The percent identity can then be calculated by determining the percent identity using an algorithm contained in a program such as FASTA: $\frac{\left( {{Total}\quad {number}\quad {of}\quad {identical}\quad {matches}} \right)}{\quad \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} \left\lbrack {{length}\quad {of}\quad {the}\quad {longer}\quad {sequence}\quad {within}\quad {the}}\quad \right. \\ {\left. \quad {{matched}\quad {span}} \right\rbrack + \left\lbrack {{number}\quad {of}\quad {gaps}\quad {introduced}}\quad \right.} \end{matrix} \\ {\quad {{into}\quad {the}\quad {longer}\quad {sequence}\quad {in}\quad {order}}\quad} \end{matrix} \\ \left. \quad {{to}\quad {align}\quad {the}\quad {two}\quad {sequences}} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}} \times 100$

Polypeptides that are at least 70 percent identical will typically have one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions as compared with wild type TRIP1. Usually, the substitutions will be conservative so as to have little or no effect on the overall net charge, polarity, or hydrophobicity of the protein but optionally may increase the activity of TRIP1. Conservative substitutions are set forth in Table I below.

TABLE I Conservative Amino Acid Substitutions Basic: arginine lysine histidine Acidic: glutamic acid aspartic acid Polar: glutamine asparagine Hydrophobic: leucine isoleucine valine Aromatic: phenylalanine tryptophan tyrosine Small: glycine alanine serine threonine methionine

The term “stringent conditions” refers to hybridization and washing under conditions that permit only binding of a nucleic acid molecule such as an oligonucleotide or cDNA molecule probe to highly homologous sequences. One stringent wash solution is 0.015 M NaCl, 0.005 M NaCitrate, and 0.1 percent SDS used at a temperature of 55° C.-65° C. Another stringent wash solution is 0.2×SSC and 0.1 percent SDS used at a temperature of between 50° C.-65° C. Where oligonucleotide probes are used to screen cDNA or genomic libraries, the following stringent washing conditions may be used. One protocol uses 6×SSC with 0.05 percent sodium pyrophosphate at a temperature of 35° C.-62° C., depending on the length of the oligonucleotide probe. For example, 14 base pair probes are washed at 35-40° C., 17 base pair probes are washed at 45-50° C., 20 base pair probes are washed at 52-57° C., and 23 base pair probes are washed at 57-63° C. The temperature can be increased 2-3° C. where the background non-specific binding appears high. A second protocol utilizes tetramethylammonium chloride (TMAC) for washing oligonucleotide probes. One stringent washing solution is 3 M TMAC, 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, and 0.2 percent SDS. The washing temperature using this solution is a function of the length of the probe. For example, a 17 base pair probe is washed at about 45-50° C.

As used herein, the terms “effective amount” and “therapeutically effective amount” refer to the amount of TRIP1 necessary to support one or more biological activities of TRIP1 as set forth above.

The TRIP1 polypeptides that have use in practicing the present invention may be naturally occurring full length polypeptides, or truncated polypeptides or peptides (i.e, “fragments”). The polypeptides or fragments may be chemically modified, i.e., glycosylated, phosphorylated, and/or linked to a polymer, as described below, and they may have an amino terminal methionine, depending on how they are prepared. In addition, the polypeptides or fragments may be variants of the naturally occurring TRIP1 polypeptide (i.e., may contain one or more amino acid deletions, insertions, and/or substitutions as compared with naturally occurring TRIP1).

The full length TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment thereof can be prepared using well known recombinant DNA technology methods such as those set forth in Sambrook et al. (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. [1989]) and/or Ausubel et al., eds, (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishers Inc. and Wiley and Sons, NY [1994]). A gene or cDNA encoding the TRIP1 protein or fragment thereof may be obtained for example by screening a genomic or cDNA library, or by PCR amplification. Alternatively, a gene encoding the TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment may be prepared by chemical synthesis using methods well known to the skilled artisan such as those described by Engels et al.(Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 28:716-734 [1989]). These methods include, inter alia, the phosphotriester, phosphoramidite, and H-phosphonate methods for nucleic acid synthesis. A preferred method for such chemical synthesis is polymer-supported synthesis using standard phosphoramidite chemistry. Typically, the DNA encoding the TRIP1 polypeptide will be several hundred nucleotides in length. Nucleic acids larger than about 100 nucleotides can be synthesized as several fragments using these methods. The fragments can then be ligated together to form the full length TRIP1 polypeptide. Usually, the DNA fragment encoding the amino terminus of the polypeptide will have an ATG, which encodes a methionine residue. This methionine may or may not be present on the mature form of the TRIP1 polypeptide, depending on whether the polypeptide produced in the host cell is secreted from that cell.

In some cases, it may be desirable to prepare nucleic acid and/or amino acid variants of naturally occurring TRIP1. Nucleic acid variants (wherein one or more nucleotides are designed to differ from the wild-type or naturally occurring TRIP1) may be produced using site directed mutagenesis or PCR amplification where the primer(s) have the desired point mutations (see Sambrook et al., supra, and Ausubel et al., supra, for descriptions of mutagenesis techniques). Chemical synthesis using methods described by Engels et al., supra, may also be used to prepare such variants. Other methods known to the skilled artisan may be used as well. Preferred nucleic acid variants are those containing nucleotide substitutions accounting for codon preference in the host cell that is to be used to produce TRIP1. Other preferred variants are those encoding conservative amino acid changes as described above (e.g., wherein the charge or polarity of the naturally occurring amino acid side chain is not altered substantially by substitution with a different amino acid) as compared to wild type, and/or those designed to either generate a novel glycosylation and/or phosphorylation site(s) on TRIP1, or those designed to delete an existing glycosylation and/or phosphorylation site(s) on TRIP1.

The TRIP1 gene or cDNA can be inserted into an appropriate expression vector for expression in a host cell. The vector is typically selected to be functional in the particular host cell employed (i.e., the vector is compatible with the host cell machinery such that amplification of the TRIP1 gene and/or expression of the gene can occur). The TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment thereof may be amplified/expressed in prokaryotic, yeast, insect (baculovirus systems) and/or eukaryotic host cells. Selection of the host cell will depend at least in part on whether the TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment thereof is to be glycosylated and/or phosphorylated. If so, yeast, insect, or mammalian host cells are preferable; yeast cells can typically glycosylate and phosphorylate the polypeptide, and insect and mammalian cells can glycosylate and/or phosphorylate the polypeptide as it naturally occurs on the TRIP1 polypeptide (i.e., “native” glycosylation and/or phosphorylation).

Typically, the vectors used in any of the host cells will contain 5′ flanking sequence (also referred to as a “promoter”) and other regulatory elements as well such as an enhancer(s), an origin of replication element, a transcriptional termination element, a complete intron sequence containing a donor and acceptor splice site, a signal peptide sequence, a ribosome binding site element, a polyadenylation sequence, a polylinker region for inserting the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide to be expressed, and a selectable marker element. Each of these elements is discussed below. Optionally, the vector may contain a “tag” sequence, i.e., an oligonucleotide sequence located at the 5′ or 3′ end of the TRIP1 coding sequence that encodes polyHis (such as hexaHis) or another small immunogenic sequence. This tag will be expressed along with the protein, and can serve as an affinity tag for purification of the TRIP1 polypeptide from the host cell. Optionally, the tag can subsequently be removed from the purified TRIP1 polypeptide by various means such as using a selected peptidase for example.

The 5′ flanking sequence may be homologous (i.e., from the same species and/or strain as the host cell), heterologous (i.e., from a species other than the host cell species or strain), hybrid (i.e., a combination of 5′ flanking sequences from more than one source), synthetic, or it may be the native TRIP1 5′ flanking sequence. As such, the source of the 5′ flanking sequence may be any unicellular prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism, any vertebrate or invertebrate organism, or any plant, provided that the 5′ flanking sequence is functional in, and can be activated by, the host cell machinery.

The 5′ flanking sequences useful in the vectors of this invention may be obtained by any of several methods well known in the art. Typically, 5′ flanking sequences useful herein other than the TRIP1 5′ flanking sequence will have been previously identified by mapping and/or by restriction endonuclease digestion and can thus be isolated from the proper tissue source using the appropriate restriction endonucleases. In some cases, the full nucleotide sequence of the 5′ flanking sequence may be known. Here, the 5′ flanking sequence may be synthesized using the methods described above for nucleic acid synthesis or cloning.

Where all or only a portion of the 5′ flanking sequence is known, it may be obtained using PCR and/or by screening a genomic library with suitable oligonucleotide and/or 5′ flanking sequence fragments from the same or another species.

Where the 5′ flanking sequence is not known, a fragment of DNA containing a 5′ flanking sequence may be isolated from a larger piece of DNA that may contain, for example, a coding sequence or even another gene or genes. Isolation may be accomplished by restriction endonuclease digestion using one or more carefully selected enzymes to isolate the proper DNA fragment. After digestion, the desired fragment may be isolated by agarose gel purification, Qiagen® column or other methods known to the skilled artisan. Selection of suitable enzymes to accomplish this purpose will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The origin of replication element is typically a part of prokaryotic expression vectors purchased commercially, and aids in the amplification of the vector in a host cell. Amplification of the vector to a certain copy number can, in some cases, be important for optimal expression of the TRIP1 polypeptide. If the vector of choice does not contain an origin of replication site, one may be chemically synthesized based on a known sequence, and ligated into the vector.

The transcription termination element is typically located 3′ of the end of the TRIP1 polypeptide coding sequence and serves to terminate transcription of the TRIP1 polypeptide. Usually, the transcription termination element in prokaryotic cells is a G-C rich fragment followed by a poly T sequence. While the element is easily cloned from a library or even purchased commercially as part of a vector, it can also be readily synthesized using methods for nucleic acid synthesis such as those described above.

A selectable marker gene element encodes a protein necessary for the survival and growth of a host cell grown in a selective culture medium. Typical selection marker genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin, tetracycline, or kanamycin for prokaryotic host cells, (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies of the cell; or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media. Preferred selectable markers are the kanamycin resistance gene, the ampicillin resistance gene, and the tetracycline resistance gene.

The ribosome binding element, commonly called the Shine-Dalgarno sequence (prokaryotes) or the Kozak sequence (eukaryotes), is necessary for translation initiation of mRNA. The element is typically located 3′ to the promoter and 5′ to the coding sequence of the TRIP1 polypeptide to be synthesized. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is varied but is typically a polypurine (i.e., having a high A-G content). Many Shine-Dalgarno sequences have been identified, each of which can be readily synthesized using methods set forth above and used in a prokaryotic vector.

In those cases where it is desirable for TRIP1 to be secreted from the host cell, a signal sequence may be used to direct the TRIP1 polypeptide out of the host cell where it is synthesized, and the. carboxy-terminal part of the protein may be deleted in order to prevent membrane anchoring. Typically, the signal sequence is positioned in the coding region of TRIP1 nucleic acid sequence, or directly at the 5′ end of the TRIP1 coding region. Many signal sequences have been identified, and any of them that are functional in the selected host cell may be used in conjunction with the TRIP1 gene. Therefore, the signal sequence may be homologous or heterologous to the TRIP1 polypeptide, and may be homologous or heterologous to the TRIP1 polypeptide. Additionally, the signal sequence may be chemically synthesized using methods set forth above. In most cases, secretion of the polypeptide from the host cell via the presence of a signal peptide will result in the removal of the amino terminal methionine from the polypeptide.

In many cases, transcription of the TRIP1 polypeptide is increased by the presence of one or more introns on the vector; this is particularly true where TRIP1 is produced in eukaryotic host cells, especially mammalian host cells. The introns used may be naturally occurring within the TRIP1 nucleic acid sequence, especially where the TRIP1 sequence used is a full length genomic sequence or a fragment thereof. Where the intron is not naturally occurring within the TRIP1 DNA sequence (as for most cDNAs), the intron(s) may be obtained from another source. The position of the intron with respect to the 5′ flanking sequence and the TRIP1 coding sequence is important, as the intron must be transcribed to be effective. As such, where the TRIP1 nucleic acid sequence is a cDNA sequence, the preferred position for the intron is 3′ to the transcription start site, and 5′ to the polyA transcription termination sequence. Preferably for TRIP1 cDNAs, the intron will be located on one side or the other (i.e., 5′ or 3′) of the TRIP1 coding sequence such that it does not interrupt the this coding sequence. Any intron from any source, including any viral, prokaryotic and eukaryotic (plant or animal) organisms, may be used to practice this invention, provided that it is compatible with the host cell(s) into which it is inserted. Also included herein are synthetic introns. Optionally, more than one intron may be used in the vector.

Where one or more of the elements set forth above are not already present in the vector to be used, they may be individually obtained and ligated into the vector. Methods used for obtaining each of the elements are well known to the skilled artisan and are comparable to the methods set forth above (i.e., synthesis of the DNA, library screening, and the like).

The final vectors used to practice this invention are typically constructed from a starting vectors such as a commercially available vector. Such vectors may or may not contain some of the elements to be included in the completed vector. If none of the desired elements are present in the starting vector, each element may be individually ligated into the vector by cutting the vector with the appropriate restriction endonuclease(s) such that the ends of the element to be ligated in and the ends of the vector are compatible for ligation. In some cases, it may be necessary to “blunt” the ends to be ligated together in order to obtain a satisfactory ligation. Blunting is accomplished by first filling in “sticky ends” using Klenow DNA polymerase or T4 DNA polymerase in the presence of all four nucleotides. This procedure is well known in the art and is described for example in Sambrook et al., supra.

Alternatively, two or more of the elements to be inserted into the vector may first be ligated together (if they are to be positioned adjacent to each other) and then ligated into the vector.

One other method for constructing the vector to conduct all ligations of the various elements simultaneously in one reaction mixture. Here, many nonsense or nonfunctional vectors will be generated due to improper ligation or insertion of the elements, however the functional vector may be identified and selected by restriction endonuclease digestion.

Preferred vectors for practicing this invention are those which are compatible with bacterial, insect, and mammalian host cells. Such vectors include, inter alia, pCRII (Invitrogen Company, San Diego, Calif.), pBSII (Stratagene Company, LaJolla, Calif.), and pETL (BlueBacII; Invitrogen).

After the vector has been constructed and a TRIP1 nucleic acid has been inserted into the proper site of the vector, the completed vector may be inserted into a suitable host cell for amplification and/or TRIP1 polypeptide expression.

Host cells may be prokaryotic host cells (such as E. coli) or eukaryotic host cells (such as a yeast cell, an insect cell, or a vertebrate cell). The host cell, when cultured under appropriate conditions, can synthesize TRIP1 protein which can subsequently be collected from the culture medium (if the host cell secretes it into the medium) or directly from the host cell producing it (if it is not secreted). After collection, the TRIP1 protein can be purified using methods such as molecular sieve chromatography, affinity chromatography, and the like.

Selection of the host cell will depend in part on whether the TRIP1 protein is to be glycosylated or phosphorylated (in which case eukaryotic host cells are preferred), and the manner in which the host cell is able to “fold” the protein into its native tertiary structure (e.g., proper orientation of disulfide bridges, etc.) such that biologically active protein is prepared by the cell. However, where the host cell does not synthesize biologically active TRIP1, the TRIP1 may be “folded” after synthesis using appropriate chemical conditions as discussed below.

Suitable cells or cell lines may be mammalian cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) or 3T3 cells. The selection of suitable mammalian host cells and methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening and product production and purification are known in the art. Other suitable mammalian cell lines, are the monkey COS-1 and COS-7 cell lines, and the CV-1 cell line. Further exemplary mammalian host cells include primate cell lines and rodent cell lines, including transformed cell lines. Normal diploid cells, cell strains derived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, as well as primary explants, are also suitable. Candidate cells may be genotypically deficient in the selection gene, or may contain a dominantly acting selection gene. Other suitable mammalian cell lines include but are not limited to, mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells, HeLa, mouse L-929 cells, 3T3 lines derived from Swiss, Balb-c or NIH mice, BHK or HaK hamster cell lines.

Similarly useful as host cells suitable for the present invention are bacterial cells. For example, the various strains of E. coli (e.g., HB101, DH5α, DH10, and MC1061) are well-known as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of B. subtilis, Pseudomonas spp., other Bacillus spp., Streptomyces spp., and the like may also be employed in this method.

Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art are also available as host cells for expression of the polypeptides of the present invention. Additionally, where desired, insect cells may be utilized as host cells in the method of the present invention (Miller et al., Genetic Engineering 8: 277-298 [1986]).

Insertion (also referred to as “transformation” or “transfection”) of the vector into the selected host cell may be accomplished using such methods as calcium chloride, electroporation, microinjection, lipofection or the DEAE-dextran method. The method selected will in part be a function of the type of host cell to be used. These methods and other suitable methods are well known to the skilled artisan, and are set forth, for example, in Sambrook et al., supra.

The host cells containing the vector (i.e., transformed or transfected) may be cultured using standard media well known to the skilled artisan. The media will usually contain all nutrients necessary for the growth and survival of the cells. Suitable media for culturing E. coli cells are for example, Luria Broth (LB) and/or Terrific Broth (TB). Suitable media for culturing eukaryotic cells are RPMI 1640, MEM, DMEM, all of which may be supplemented with serum and/or growth factors as required by the particular cell line being cultured. A suitable medium for insect cultures is Grace's medium supplemented with yeastolate, lactalbumin hydrolysate, and/or fetal calf serum as necessary.

Typically, an antibiotic or other compound useful for selective growth of the transformed cells only is added as a supplement to the media. The compound to be used will be dictated by the selectable marker element present on the plasmid with which the host cell was transformed. For example, where the selectable marker element is kanamycin resistance, the compound added to the culture medium will be kanamycin.

The amount of TRIP1 polypeptide produced in the host cell can be evaluated using standard methods known in the art. Such methods include, without limitation, Western blot analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, HPLC separation, immunoprecipitation, and/or activity assays such as DNA binding gel shift assays.

If the TRIP1 polypeptide has been designed to be secreted from the host cells, the majority of polypeptide may be found in the cell culture medium. Polypeptides prepared in this way will typically not possess an amino terminal methionine, as it is removed during secretion from the cell. If however, the TRIP1 polypeptide is not secreted from the host cells, it will be present in the cytoplasm (for eukaryotic, gram positive bacteria, and insect host cells) or in the periplasm (for gram negative bacteria host cells) and may have an amino terminal methionine.

For intracellular TRIP1 protein, the host cells are typically first disrupted mechanically or osmotically to release the cytoplasmic contents into a buffered solution. TRIP1 polypeptide can then be isolated from this solution.

Purification of TRIP1 polypeptide from solution can be accomplished using a variety of techniques. If the polypeptide has been synthesized such that it contains a tag such as Hexahistidine (TRIP1/hexaHis) or other small peptide at either its carboxyl or amino terminus, it may essentially be purified in a one-step process by passing the solution through an affinity column where the column matrix has a high affinity for the tag or for the polypeptide directly (i.e., a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing TRIP1). For example, polyhistidine binds with great affinity and specificity to nickel, thus an affinity column of nickel (such as the Qiagen nickel columns) can be used for purification of TRIP1/polyHis. (See for example, Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Section 10.11.8, John Wiley & Sons, New York [1993]).

Where the TRIP1 polypeptide has no tag and no antibodies are available, other well known procedures for purification can be used. Such procedures include, without limitation, ion exchange chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, HPLC, native gel electrophoresis in combination with gel elution, and preparative isoelectric focusing (“Isoprime” machine/technique, Hoefer Scientific). In some cases, two or more of these techniques may be combined to achieve increased purity.

If it is anticipated that the TRIP1 polypeptide will be found primarily in the periplasmic space of the bacteria or the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, the contents of the periplasm or cytoplasm, including inclusion bodies (e.g., gram-negative bacteria) if the processed polypeptide has formed such complexes, can be extracted from the host cell using any standard technique known to the skilled artisan. For example, the host cells can be lysed to release the contents of the periplasm by French press, homogenization, and/or sonication. The homogenate can then be centrifuged.

If the TRIP1 polypeptide has formed inclusion bodies in the periplasm, the inclusion bodies can often bind to the inner and/or outer cellular membranes and thus will be found primarily in the pellet material after centrifugation. The pellet material can then be treated with a chaotropic agent such as guanidine or urea to release, break apart, and solubilize the inclusion bodies. The TRIP1 polypeptide in its now soluble form can then be analyzed using gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation or the like. If it is desired to isolate the TRIP1 polypeptide, isolation may be accomplished using standard methods such as those set forth below and in Marston et al. (Meth. Enz., 182:264-275 [1990]).

If TRIP1 polypeptide inclusion bodies are not formed to a significant degree in the periplasm of the host cell, the TRIP1 polypeptide will be found primarily in the supernatant after centrifugation of the cell homogenate, and the TRIP1 polypeptide can be isolated from the supernatant using methods such as those set forth below.

In those situations where it is preferable to partially or completely isolate the TRIP1 polypeptide, purification can be accomplished using standard methods well known to the skilled artisan. Such methods include, without limitation, separation by electrophoresis followed by electroelution, various types of chromatography (immunoaffinity, molecular sieve, and/or ion exchange), and/or high pressure liquid chromatography. In some cases, it may be preferable to use more than one of these methods for complete purification.

In addition to preparing and purifying TRIP1 polypeptide using recombinant DNA techniques, the TRIP1 polypeptides, fragments, and/or derivatives thereof may be prepared by chemical synthesis methods (such as solid phase peptide synthesis) using methods known in the art such as those set forth by Merrifield et al., (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149 [1964]), Houghten et al. (Proc Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 82:5132 [1985]), and Stewart and Young (Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, Pierce Chem Co, Rockford, Ill. [1984]). Such polypeptides may be synthesized with or without a methionine on the amino terminus. Chemically synthesized TRIP1 polypeptides or fragments may be oxidized using methods set forth in these references to form disulfide bridges. The TRIP1 polypeptides or fragments may be employed as biologically active or immunological substitutes for natural, purified TRIP1 polypeptides in therapeutic and immunological processes.

Chemically modified TRIP1 compositions (i.e., “derivatives”) where the TRIP1 polypeptide is linked to a polymer (“TRIP1-polymers”) are included within the scope of the present invention. The polymer selected is typically water soluble so that the protein to which it is attached does not precipitate in an aqueous environment, such as a physiological environment. The polymer selected is usually modified to have a single reactive group, such as an active ester for acylation or an aldehyde for alkylation, so that the degree of polymerization may be controlled as provided for in the present methods. A preferred reactive aldehyde is polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde, which is water stable, or mono C1-C10 alkoxy or aryloxy derivatives thereof (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,714). The polymer may be branched or unbranched. Included within the scope of TRIP1-polymers is a mixture of polymers. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end-product preparation, the polymer will be pharmaceutically acceptable. The water soluble polymer or mixture thereof may be selected from the group consisting of, for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG), monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran, cellulose, or other carbohydrate based polymers, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer, polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol) and polyvinyl alcohol. For the acylation reactions, the polymer(s) selected should have a single reactive ester group. For reductive alkylation, the polymer(s) selected should have a single reactive aldehyde group. The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched.

Pegylation of TRIP1 may be carried out by any of the pegylation reactions known in the art, as described for example in the following references: Focus on Growth Factors 3: 4-10 (1992); EP 0 154 316; and EP 0 401 384. Preferably, the pegylation is carried out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive polyethylene glycol molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer) as described below.

Pegylation by acylation generally involves reacting an active ester derivative of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an TRIP1 protein. Any known or subsequently discovered reactive PEG molecule may be used to carry out the pegylation of TRIP1. A preferred activated PEG ester is PEG esterified to N-hydroxysuccinimide (“NHS”). As used herein, “acylation” is contemplated to include without limitation the following types of linkages between TRIP1 and a water soluble polymer such as PEG: amide, carbamate, urethane, and the like, as described in Bioconjugate Chem. 5: 133-140 (1994). Reaction conditions may be selected from any of those known in the pegylation art or those subsequently developed, provided that conditions such as temperature, solvent, and pH that would inactivate the TRIP1 species to be modified are avoided.

Pegylation by acylation usually results in a polypegylated TRIP1 product, wherein the lysine ε-amino groups are pegylated via an acyl linking group. Preferably, the connecting linkage will be an amide. Also preferably, the resulting product will be at least about 95 percent mono, di- or tri- pegylated. However, some species with higher degrees of pegylation (up to the maximum number of lysine ε-amino acid groups of TRIP1 plus one α-amino group at the amino terminus of TRIP1) will normally be formed in amounts depending on the specific reaction conditions used. If desired, more purified pegylated species may be separated from the mixture, particularly unreacted species, by standard purification techniques, including, among others, dialysis, salting-out, ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and electrophoresis.

Pegylation by alkylation generally involves reacting a terminal aldehyde derivative of PEG with a protein such as TRIP1 in the presence of a reducing agent. Regardless of the degree of pegylation, the PEG groups are preferably attached to the protein via a CH₂—NH— group. With particular reference to the —CH₂— group, this type of linkage is referred to herein as an “alkyl” linkage.

Derivatization via reductive alkylation to produce a monopegylated product exploits the differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available for derivatization in TRIP1. Typically, the reaction is performed at a pH (see below) which allows one to take advantage of the pK_(a) differences between the ε-amino groups of the lysine residues and that of the α-amino group of the N-terminal residue of the protein. By such selective derivatization, attachment of a water soluble polymer that contains a reactive group such as an aldehyde, to a protein is controlled: the conjugation with the polymer occurs predominantly at the N-terminus of the protein without significant modification of other reactive groups such as the lysine side chain amino groups. The present invention provides for a substantially homogeneous preparation of TRIP1-monopolymer protein conjugate molecules (meaning TRIP1 protein to which a polymer molecule has been attached substantially only (i.e., at least about 95%) in a single location on the TRIP1 protein. More specifically, if polyethylene glycol is used, the present invention also provides for pegylated TRIP1 protein lacking possibly antigenic linking groups, and having the polyethylene glycol molecule directly coupled to the TRIP1 protein.

A particularly preferred water-soluble polymer for use herein is polyethylene glycol, abbreviated PEG. As used herein, polyethylene glycol is meant to encompass any of the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize other proteins, such as mono-(C1-C10) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol.

In general, chemical derivatization may be performed under any suitable conditions used to react a biologically active substance with an activated polymer molecule. Methods for preparing pegylated TRIP1 will generally comprise the steps of (a) reacting an TRIP1 polypeptide with polyethylene glycol (such as a reactive ester or aldehyde derivative of PEG) under conditions whereby TRIP1 becomes attached to one or more PEG groups, and (b) obtaining the reaction product(s). In general, the optimal reaction conditions for the acylation reactions will be determined based on known parameters and the desired result. For example, the larger the ratio of PEG: protein, the greater the percentage of poly-pegylated product.

Reductive alkylation to produce a substantially homogeneous population of mono-polymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate molecule will generally comprise the steps of: (a) reacting a TRIP1 protein with a reactive PEG molecule under reductive alkylation conditions, at a pH suitable to permit selective modification of the α-amino group at the amino terminus of said TRIP1 protein; and (b) obtaining the reaction product(s).

For a substantially homogeneous population of mono-polymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate molecules, the reductive alkylation reaction conditions are those which permit the selective attachment of the water soluble polymer moiety to the N-terminus of TRIP1. Such reaction conditions generally provide for pK_(a) differences between the lysine amino groups and the α-amino group at the N-terminus (the pK_(a) being the pH at which 50% of the amino groups are protonated and 50% are not). The pH also affects the ratio of polymer to protein to be used. In general, if the pH is lower, a larger excess of polymer to protein will be desired (i.e., the less reactive the N-terminal α-amino group, the more polymer needed to achieve optimal conditions). If the pH is higher, the polymer:protein ratio need not be as large (i.e., more reactive groups are available, so fewer polymer molecules are needed). For purposes of the present invention, the pH will generally fall within the range of 3-9, preferably 3-6.

Another important consideration is the molecular weight of the polymer. In general, the higher the molecular weight of the polymer, the fewer number of polymer molecules which may be attached to the protein. Similarly, branching of the polymer should be taken into account when optimizing these parameters. Generally, the higher the molecular weight (or the more branches) the higher the polymer:protein ratio. In general, for the pegylation reactions contemplated herein, the preferred average molecular weight is about 2 kDa to about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating±1 kDa). The preferred average molecular weight is about 5 kDa to about 50 kDa, particularly preferably about 12 kDa to about 25 kDa. The ratio of water-soluble polymer to TRIP1 protein will generally range from 1:1 to 100:1, preferably (for polypegylation) 1:1 to 20:1 and (for monopegylation) 1:1 to 5:1.

Using the conditions indicated above, reductive alkylation will provide for selective attachment of the polymer of any TRIP1 protein having an α-amino group at the amino terminus, and provide for a substantially homogenous preparation of monopolymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate. The term “monopolymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate” is used here to mean a composition comprised of a single polymer molecule attached to an TRIP1 protein molecule. The monopolymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate preferably will have a polymer molecule located at the N-terminus, but not on lysine amino side groups. The preparation will preferably be greater than 90% monopolymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate, and more preferably greater than 95% monopolymer TRIP1 protein conjugate, with the remainder of observable molecules being unreacted (i.e., protein lacking the polymer moiety). The examples below provide for a preparation which is at least about 90% monopolymer/ protein conjugate, and about 10% unreacted protein. The monopolymer/protein conjugate has biological activity.

For the present reductive alkylation, the reducing agent should be stable in aqueous solution and preferably be able to reduce only the Schiff base formed in the initial process of reductive alkylation. Preferred reducing agents may be selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, sodium cyanoborohydride, dimethylamine borane, trimethylamine borane and pyridine borane. A particularly preferred reducing agent is sodium cyanoborohydride.

Other reaction parameters, such as solvent, reaction times, temperatures, etc., and means of purification of products, can be determined based on the published information relating to derivatization of proteins with water soluble polymers.

A mixture of polymer-TRIP1 protein conjugate molecules may be prepared by acylation and/or alkylation methods, as described above, and one may select the proportion of monopolymer/ protein conjugate to include in the mixture. Thus, where desired, a mixture of various protein with various numbers of polymer molecules attached (i.e., di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.) may be prepared and combined with the monopolymer/TRIP1 protein conjugate material prepared using the present methods.

Generally, conditions which may be alleviated or modulated by administration of the present polymer/TRIP1 include those described herein for TRIP1 molecules in general. However, the polymer/TRIP1 molecules disclosed herein may have additional activities, enhanced or reduced activities, or other characteristics, as compared to the non-derivatized molecules.

TRIP1 nucleic acid molecules, fragments, and/or derivatives that do not themselves encode polypeptides that are active in activity assays may be useful as hybridization probes in diagnostic assays to test, either qualitatively or quantitatively, for the presence of TRIP1 DNA or corresponding RNA in mammalian tissue or bodily fluid samples.

TRIP1 polypeptide fragments and/or derivatives that are not themselves active in activity assays may be useful for preparing antibodies to TRIP1 polypeptides.

The TRIP1 polypeptides and fragments thereof, whether or not chemically modified, may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmaceutical compositions.

The TRIP1 polypeptides and/or fragments thereof may be used to prepare antibodies generated by standard methods. Thus, antibodies that react with the TRIP1 polypeptides, as well as reactive fragments of such antibodies, are also contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The antibodies may be polyclonal, monoclonal, recombinant, chimeric, single-chain and/or bispecific. Typically, the antibody or fragment thereof will either be of human origin, or will be “humanized”, i.e., prepared so as to prevent or minimize an immune reaction to the antibody when administered to a patient. The antibody fragment may be any fragment that is reactive with the TRIP1 of the present invention, such as, F_(ab), F_(ab′), etc. Also provided by this invention are the hybridomas generated by presenting TRIP1 or a fragment thereof as an antigen to a selected mammal, followed by fusing cells (e.g., spleen cells) of the mammal with certain cancer cells to create immortalized cell lines by known techniques. The methods employed to generate such cell lines and antibodies directed against all or portions of a human TRIP1 polypeptide of the present invention are also encompassed by this invention.

The antibodies may be used therapeutically, such as to inhibit binding of TRIP1 to telomeres or to telomerase RNA, or to inhibit TRIP1 activity in other ways. The antibodies may further be used for in vivo and in vitro diagnostic purposes, such as in labeled form to detect the presence of the TRIP1 in a body fluid.

Therapeutic Compositions and Administration

Therapeutic compositions of TRIP1 are within the scope of the present invention. Such compositions may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment thereof (either of which may be chemically modified) in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The carrier material may be water for injection, preferably supplemented with other materials common in solutions for administration to mammals. Typically, a TRIP1 therapeutic compound will be administered in the form of a composition comprising purified TRIP1 polypeptide or fragment (which may be chemically modified) in conjunction with one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents. Neutral buffered saline or saline mixed with serum albumin are exemplary appropriate carriers. Preferably, the product is formulated as a lyophilizate using appropriate excipients (e.g., sucrose). Other standard carriers, diluents, and excipients may be included as desired. Other exemplary compositions comprise Tris buffer of about pH 7.0-8.5, or acetate buffer of about pH 4.0-5.5, which may further include sorbitol or a suitable substitute therefor.

The TRIP1 compositions can be systemically administered parenterally. Alternatively, the compositions may be administered intravenously or subcutaneously. When systemically administered, the therapeutic compositions for use in this invention may be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution. The preparation of such pharmaceutically acceptable protein solutions, with due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability and the like, is within the skill of the art.

Therapeutic formulations of TRIP1 compositions useful for practicing the present invention may be prepared for storage by mixing the selected composition having the desired degree of purity with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Company [1990]) in the form of a lyophilized cake or an aqueous solution. Acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients and are preferably inert at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, or other organic acids; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as Tween, Pluronics or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

The TRIP1 composition to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes. Where the TRIP1 composition is lyophilized, sterilization using these methods may be conducted either prior to, or following, lyophilization and reconstitution. The composition for parenteral administration ordinarily will be stored in lyophilized form or in solution.

Therapeutic compositions generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

The route of administration of the composition is in accord with known methods, e.g. oral, injection or infusion by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral (intraparenchymal), intracerebroventricular, intramuscular, intraocular, intraarterial, or intralesional routes, or by sustained release systems or implantation device which may optionally involve the use of a catheter. Where desired, the compositions may be administered continuously by infusion, bolus injection or by implantation device. Alternatively or additionally, TRIP1 may be administered locally via implantation into the affected area of a membrane, sponge, or other appropriate material on to which TRIP1 polypeptide has been absorbed.

TRIP1 polypeptide may be administered in a sustained release formulation or preparation. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Sustained release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels, polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al, Biopolymers, 22: 547-556 [1983]), poly (2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 15: 167-277 [1981] and Langer, Chem. Tech., 12: 98-105 [1982]), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra) or poly-D(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustained-release compositions also may include liposomes, which can be prepared by any of several methods known in the art (e.g., DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688-3692 [1985]; Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4030-4034 [1980]; EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949).

In other cases, TRIP1 may be delivered through implanting into patients certain cells that have been genetically engineered to express and secrete TRIP1 polypeptide. Such cells may be animal or human cells, and may be derived from the patient's own tissue or from another source, either human or non-human. Optionally, the cells may be immortalized. The cells may be implanted into suitable body tissues or organs of the patient.

An effective amount of the TRIP1 composition(s) to be employed therapeutically will depend, for example, upon the therapeutic objectives such as the indication for which TRIP1 is being used, the route of administration, and the condition of the patient. Accordingly, it will be necessary for the therapist to titer the dosage and modify the route of administration as required to obtain the optimal therapeutic effect. A typical daily dosage may range from about 0.1 μg/kg to up to 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. Typically, a clinician will administer the TRIP1 composition until a dosage is reached that achieves the desired effect. The TRIP1 composition may therefore be administered as a single dose, or as two or more doses (which may or may not contain the same amount of TRIP1) over time, or as a continuous infusion via implantation device or catheter.

As further studies are conducted, information will emerge regarding appropriate dosage levels for treatment of various conditions in various patients, and the ordinary skilled worker, considering the therapeutic context, the type of disorder under treatment, the age and general health of the recipient, will be able to ascertain proper dosing.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to use gene therapy methods for administration of TRIP1 to patients suffering from HIV infection, AIDS, or other diseases for which TRIP1 is a viable therapeutic agent, such as, for example, premature aging and other aging disorders. In these situations, genomic DNA, cDNA, and/or synthetic DNA encoding TRIP1 or a fragment or variant thereof may be operably linked to a constitutive or inducible promoter (where the promoter may be homologous or heterologous) that is active in the tissue into which the composition will be injected. This construct can then be inserted into a suitable vector such as an adenovirus vector or a retrovirus vector to create a “gene therapy vector”. The cells of the patient to be treated (such as, for example, T-cells in AIDS patients) can be removed from the patient, infected with the gene therapy vector using standard transfection procedures for eukaryotic cells, and tested for TRIP1 protein production. Those cells expressing TRIP1 can then be re-introduced into the patient.

Gene therapy methods may also be employed where is desirable to inhibit TRIP1 activity. Here, antisense DNA or RNA with a sequence that is complementary to: (1) full length telomerase RNA, (2) at least the portion of the telomerase RNA that interacts with TRIP1, (3) a portion of the TRIP1 mRNA, or (4) full length TRIP1 mRNA can be prepared, placed into a suitable vector, and transfected into selected cells (previously removed from the patient in an ex vivo manner). The vector is typically selected based on its ability to generate high levels of the anti-sense RNA in conjunction with the host cell's machinery.

Alternatively, gene therapy may be employed to create a dominant-negative inhibitor of TRIP1. In this situation, the DNA encoding a mutant full length or truncated polypeptide of TRIP1 is inserted into a retrovirus or adenovirus, or a comparable vector, and the vector in turn is transfected into the patient's cells in either an ex vivo or in vivo manner. This TRIP1 mutant is designed to (1) compete with endogenous TRIP1 in forming the telomerase complex; and (2) contains one or more insertions, deletions, and/or mutations as compared to wild type TRIP1 such that the telomerase complex is rendered functionally inactive. For example, a TRIP1 truncation mutant in which the portion of the molecule that binds RNA (i.e., approximately amino acids 1-900 of human TRIP1) remains intact, but another portion of TRIP1 such as its telomere binding domain or its protein-protein interaction domain is deleted or otherwise rendered non-functional.

Assays to Screen for Inhibitors of TRIP1

As mentioned above, it would be desirable to inhibit or significantly decrease the level of TRIP1 activity in certain cells such as cancer cells (immortalized cells). Compounds that inhibit TRIP1 activity could be administered either in an ex vivo manner, or in an in vivo manner by local or iv injection, or by oral delivery, implantation device, or the like. The assays described below provide examples of methods useful for identifying compounds that could inhibit TRIP1 activity.

For ease of reading, the following definition is used herein for describing the assays:

“Test molecule(s)” refers to the molecule(s) that is under evaluation as an inhibitor of TRIP1, either by virtue of its potential ability to block the interaction of TRIP1 with telomerase RNA, or by virtue of its potential ability to block the interaction of TRIP1 with telomere binding proteins, with the telomere itself, or with other polypeptides that comprise the telomerase complex.

A. In Vitro Assays Using Purified Protein

Several types of in vitro assays using purified protein may be conducted to identify those compounds that disrupt telomerase activity. Such disruption may be accomplished by a compound that either inhibits the interaction of TRIP1 with the telomeres, or by a compound that inhibits TRIP1 association with telomerase RNA or other protein components of the telomerase enzyme complex.

In one assay, purified TRIP1 protein or a fragment thereof (prepared for example using methods described above) can be immobilized by attachment to the bottom of the wells of a microtiter plate. Radiolabeled telomerase RNA, as well as the test molecule(s) can then be added either one at a time or simultaneously to the wells. After incubation, the wells can be washed and counted using a scintillation counter for radioactivity to determine the degree of TRIP1/telomerase RNA binding in the presence of the test molecule. Typically, the molecule will be tested over a range of concentrations, and a series of control “wells” lacking one or more elements of the test assays can be used for accuracy in evaluating the results. A variation of this assay involves attaching the telomerase RNA to the wells, and adding radiolabeled TRIP1 along with the test molecule to the wells. After incubation and washing, the wells can be counted for radioactivity.

Several means other than radiolabelling are available to “mark” the TRIP1 or telomerase RNA. For example, TRIP1 protein can be radiolabelled using 125-I. Alternatively, a fusion protein of TRIP1 wherein the DNA encoding TRIP1 is fused to the coding sequence of a peptide such as the c-myc epitope. TRIP1-myc fusion protein can readily be detected with commercially available antibodies directed against myc.

Telomerase RNA can be labeled by synthesizing it with radiolabelled nucleotides such as 32-P ATP, and the level of radioactivity can then be measured by scintillation counting. Alternatively, the RNA can be labeled using biotin, digoxigenin, or a comparable compound.

An alternative to microtiter plate type of binding assays comprises immobilizing either TRIP1 or telomerase RNA on agarose beads, acrylic beads or other types of such inert substrates. The inert substrate containing the RNA or TRIP1 can be placed in a solution containing the test molecule along with the complementary component (either RNA or TRIP1) which has been radiolabeled or fluorescently labeled; after incubation, the inert substrate can be precipitated by centrifugation, and the amount of binding between TRIP1 and RNA can be assessed using the methods described above. Alternatively, the insert substrate complex can be immobilized in a column and the test molecule and complementary component passed over the column. Formation of the TRIP1/RNA complex can then be assessed using any of the techniques set forth above, i.e., radiolabeling, antibody binding, or the like.

Another type of in vitro assay that is useful for identifying a molecule to inhibit TRIP1 activity is the Biacore assay system (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) using a surface plasmon resonance detector system and following the manufacturer's protocol. This assay essentially involves covalent binding of either TRIP1 or telomerase RNA to a dextran-coated sensor chip which is located in a detector. The test molecule and the complementary component can then be injected into the chamber containing the sensor chip either simultaneously or sequentially, and the amount of binding of TRIP1/RNA can be assessed based on the change in molecular mass which is physically associated with the dextran-coated side of the of the sensor chip; the change in molecular mass can be measured by the detector system.

One other assay useful for evaluating test molecule disruption of the TRIP1/RNA complex is the gel shift assay. Here, TRIP1, telomerase RNA, and the test molecule can be incubated together. Typically, the RNA is radiolabelled using standard radioisotopes for nucleic acids (such as 32-P ATP). After incubation, the samples can be run on a non-denaturing acrylamide gel where the acrylamide concentration is about 4-6 percent. The migration pattern of telomerase RNA on the gel can then be evaluated. Where the TRIP1/RNA complex is intact during electrophoresis (even after treatment with the test molecule) migration will be slowed due to the increased molecular weight of the complex. If, however, the test molecule has sufficiently disrupted the TRIP1/RNA complex, telomerase RNA will migrate in a manner comparable to control (untreated) telomerase RNA. Migration can be detected by autoradiography.

In some cases, it may be desirable to evaluate two or more test molecules together for use in decreasing or inhibiting TRIP1 activity. In these cases, the assays set forth above can be readily modified by adding such additional test molecule(s) either simultaneously with, or subsequently to, the first test molecule. The remainder of steps in the assay can be as set forth above.

B. In Vitro Assays Using Cultured Cells

Cultures of immortalized cells (either normal mammalian cells that have spontaneously gained the ability to replicate indefinitely, normal mammalian cells transformed with oncogenes, or mammalian cells derived from tumors) can be used to evaluate test molecules for TRIP1 inhibition. The immortalized cells can be obtained from any mammal, but preferably will be from human or other primate, canine, or rodent sources.

In one type of cell culture assay, the immortalized cells can be cultured in standard medium such as DMEM, alpha-MEM, or RPMI. Typically, the medium would contain up to about ten percent (v:v) of fetal calf serum. Incubation is typically conducted for 1-5 days. After this incubation, the test molecule or molecules can be added, and the cells incubated for a period of 1-7 days, allowing for 3-8 cell cycles. After washing the cells to remove any residual test molecule, the cells can be harvested and telomerase activity analyzed in an in vitro assay such as the TRAP assay (Kim et al, supra) or the TRF assay (Harley et al., 1990, supra). Inhibition may be manifested by a decrease in telomere length, telomerase activity, or both. For example, two known reverse transcriptase inhibitors, dideoxy GTP and AZT, have been shown to cause a decrease in telomere length in immortalized cells and a decrease in telomerase activity in vitro (Strahl et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 16:53-65 [1996]).

In another cell assay, human immortalized cells can be transfected with a DNA construct encoding either full length TRIP1 or a truncated version of TRIP1. After transfection, the cells could be incubated for a period of time, after which telomerase activity could be assessed using the TRAP assay, and telomere length assayed by the TRF or other suitable assay.

The following examples are intended for illustration purposes only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

EXAMPLES

1. Molecular Cloning of Murine TRIP1 cDNA

Standard methods for library preparation, DNA cloning, and protein expression are set forth in Sambrook et al., (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laborite Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. [1989]).

A cDNA library was constructed using RNA purified from adult murine colonic crypt cells. mRNA was isolated from a membrane bound polysomal fraction of RNA (Mechler et al., Meth, Enz., 152:241-248 [1987]). The poly(A+) mRNA fraction was isolated from the total RNA preparation using the FastTrac mRNA Isolation Kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's recommended procedure. First strand cDNA was generated by reverse transcribing the RNA using random hexanucleotides (RediPrime kit, Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.).

A random primed cDNA library was prepared from the first strand cDNA using the Superscript Plasmid System (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). A random cDNA primer containing an internal NotI restriction site was used to initiate first strand synthesis and had the following double strand sequence:

CCTCTGCGGCCGCTACANNNNNNNNT (SEQ ID NO: 5)

GGAGACGCCGGCGA′ (SEQ ID NO: 6)

The first strand cDNA synthesis reaction was assembled using 1 μg of the mRNA and 150 ng of the Not1 random primer. After second strand synthesis, the reaction products were extracted with the phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol mixture and ethanol precipitated. The double strand (ds) cDNA products were ligated to the following ds oligonucleotide adapter (Gibco BRL):

TCGACCCACGCGTCCG (SEQ ID NO: 7)

GGGTGCGCAGGC (SEQ ID NO: 8)

After ligation the cDNA was digested to completion with Not1, extracted with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1 ratio) and ethanol precipitated. The resuspended cDNA was then size fractionated by gel filtration using the premade columns provided with the Superscript Plasmid System (Gibco BRL) as recommended by the manufacturer. The fractions containing the largest cDNA products were ethanol precipitated and then directionally ligated into Not1 and Sal1 digested pMOB vector DNA (Strathmann et. al. Science 252:802-808 [1991]). The ligated cDNA was introduced into electrocompetent XL1-Blue E. coli (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) by electroporation. The library was termed cml.

Approximately 20,000 colonies from the library were picked and arrayed into 96 well microtiter plates containing about 200 μl of L-broth, 7.5% glycerol, 50 μg/ml ampicillin and 12.5 μg/ml tetracycline. The cultures were grown overnight at 37° C., a duplicate set of microtiter plates were made using a sterile 96 pin replicating tool, and both sets were stored at −80° C. for further analysis.

To sequence random cDNA clones from this library, sequencing template was prepared by PCR amplification of cloned cDNA inserts using vector primers. Glycerol stocks of cDNA clones were thawed, and small aliquots were diluted 1:25 in distilled water. Approximately 3.0 μl of diluted bacterial cultures were added to PCR reaction mixture (Boehringer-Mannheim) containing the following oligonucleotides:

TGTAAAACGACGGCCAGT (SEQ ID NO: 9)

CAGGAAACAGCTATGACC (SEQ ID NO: 10)

The reactions were incubated in a thermocycler (Perkin-Elmer 9600) with the following cycle conditions: 94° C. for 2 minutes; 94° C. for 5 seconds, 50° C. for 5 seconds and 72° C. for 3 minutes for 30 cycles and then a final extension at 72° C. for 4 minutes. After incubation in the thermocycler, the reactions were diluted with about 2.0 ml of water. The amplified DNA fragments were further purified using Centricon columns (Princeton Separations) using the manufacturer's recommended procedures. In some instances, low primer and deoxynucleoside triphosphate concentrations were used in the amplification reactions, and in those instances, Centricon purification was not necessary. The PCR reaction products were sequenced on an Applied Biosystems 373A automated DNA sequencer using T3 primer:

CAATTAACCCTCACTAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 11)

Taq dye-terminator reactions (Applied Biosystems) were conducted following the manufacturer's recommended procedures.

A search of six way translated DNA sequences from these clones was performed to isolate clones that conformed to the following criteria:

1. Potential signal peptide: Translated sequences contain the following: a methionine followed by one to three positively charged residues followed by 6-15 hydrophobic residues followed by 1-2 charged residues, followed by an open reading frame of at least residues.

2. Predicted alpha helical structure. The open reading frame contains sequences that are predicted to contain at least 30% alpha helix as assayed by the Robson/Garnier algorithm contained in the software program Macvector 4.5.

3. Leucine content. The open reading frame contains at least 10% Leucine residues.

4. Cysteine content. The open reading frame contains at least one but not more than 7 cysteine residues.

5. Lack of transmembrane domain. The open reading frame does not contain a sequence of 15-25 consecutive hydrophobic or uncharged residues.

One clone meeting all of these criteria, cm1-85-g3, was selected for further characterization. To identify additional sequence of this clone, a search of clones obtained from a mouse colon tissue cDNA library (prepared essentially as described above) using cm1-85-g3 as a probe resulted in the identification of clone cm3-1-e4, which had overlapping (homologous) sequence with cm1-85-g3, and contained additional 3′ sequence, including a 3′ termination codon. Clone cm1-85-g3 was about 1322 base pairs (bp) in length, and clone cm3-1-e4 was about 6.9 kb. To obtain the 5′ portion of the coding region, PCR amplification was performed using an antisense oligonucleotide corresponding to the 5′ end of the cm1-85-g3 clone and an oligonucleotide corresponding to a portion of the pMOB vector polylinker sequence. The template for this PCR reaction was 96 DNA samples. Each sample was prepared by first plating the entire cml library at a density of about 10,000 clones on 96 15 cm plates. After culturing, each plate was scraped and the resultant pooled bacteria containing the clones was prepared as a glycerol stock. DNA was prepared from a portion of each pool, and 1-3 μl of each DNA sample was then added to the individual wells.

PCR conditions were: 30 cycles, 94° C. for 20 seconds; 50° C. for 10 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds. Samples were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

A PCR fragment of about 1.5 kb was isolated from one of the PCR reactions, and was sequenced. A search of various databases with this PCR fragment resulted in the identification of a homologous sequence termed bmst2-15-g6. This clone was sequenced in its entirety, and was found to contain a methionine preceded by several stop codons, indicating a translation start site for the gene.

The three clones cm1-85-g3, cm3-1-e4 and bmst2-15-g6 overlapped to form a contiguous sequence of about 8159 bp in length. Within this sequence was an open reading frame of about 7887 bp comprising about 2629 amino acids.

A FASTA search of this open reading frame against all translated DNA sequences in the Genbank DNA Repository revealed a homology to the Tetrahymena telomerase P80 subunit. Several significant stretches of amino acid homology were found across this Tetrahymena amino acid sequence. One of these regions showed about 46 percent identity over a 90 amino acid length of the Tetrahymena telomerase P80 subunit. Due to its homology with Tetrahymena telomerase, this gene was called murine telomerase RNA interacting protein 1 (“TRIP1”).

2. Cloning of Human TRIP1 Gene

The human homolog for the murine TRIP1 gene was identified by screening a cDNA library constructed using RNA from the human colon tumor cell line LIM1863 (Whitehead et al., Cancer Res., 47:2704-2713 [1987]). Total RNA was isolated and the poly(A+) mRNA fraction was obtained using the FastTrac mRNA Isolation Kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's recommended procedure. First strand cDNA was generated by reverse transcribing the RNA using random hexanucleotides (RediPrime kit, Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.).

A random primed cDNA library was prepared from the first strand CDNA using the Superscript Plasmid System (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). A random cDNA primer containing an internal NotI restriction site was used to initiate first strand synthesis. This primer had the double strand sequence as set forth above for SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6.

The first strand CDNA synthesis reaction was assembled using 1 μg of the mRNA and 150 ng of the Not1 random primer. After second strand synthesis, the reaction products were extracted with the phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol mixture and ethanol precipitated. The double strand (ds) cDNA products were ligated to a double strand oligonucleotide adapter with the sequence set forth above for SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8.

After ligation, the cDNA was digested to completion with NotI, extracted with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1 ratio) and ethanol precipitated. The resuspended cDNA was then size fractionated by gel filtration using the premade columns provided with the Superscript Plasmid System (Gibco/BRL) as recommended by the manufacturer. The fractions containing the largest cDNA products were ethanol precipitated and then directionally ligated into Not1 and Sal1 digested pSPORT vector (Gibco/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.). The ligated cDNA was introduced into electrocompetent XL1-Blue E. coli (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) by electroporation.

The cDNA library was arrayed by plating the entire library at a density of about 10,000 clones per plate on 96 15 cm Petri plates. After incubation, each plate was scraped, and the resultant pooled bacteria was prepared as a glycerol stock. DNA was prepared from an aliquot of each pool, digested with NotI, electrophoresed on a 1% agarose gel and transferred to a charged nylon membrane for Southern blotting. Each of the 96 lanes on the gel thus contained about 10,000 cDNA clones. An approximately 500 bp BamHI/HindIII fragment of clone cm1-85-g3 was random prime labeled using standard methods and hybridized to the Southern blot. Hybridization was conducted at 50° C. for at least two hours using Rapid Hyb buffer (Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and following the manufacturer's protocol. About ten percent of the samples hybridized to the probe. Lanes corresponding to DNA pools 54, 58 and 87 contained the largest inserts, and so these were selected for further analysis.

Glycerol stocks of bacteria containing the indicated pooled clones were plated directly on to nitrocellulose filters covering agar plates, grown for several hours at 30° C., lysed, and hybridized to the cm1-85-g3 500 bp random primed probe. Hybridization conditions were as above using Rapid Hyb buffer. Positive clones were picked and rescreened to isolate single clones from each stock. The three selected clones, called 54, 58, and 87, contained significant overlapping sequence with each other. To identify additional 5′ sequence for the human TRIP1 gene, the largest of the three clones, clone 54, was used to generate one antisense oligonucleotide positioned near its 5′ end for a PCR primer. The second PCR primer corresponded to the PSPORT vector. The templates for PCR were the same 96 well pools described above. PCR conditions were: 30 cycles, 94° C. for 20 seconds; 50° C. for 10 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds. Samples were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis using the antisense oligonucleotide together with an oligonucleotide sequence found in the PSPORT polylinker.

An approximately 1.5 kbp band was identified in pool 96. This pool was then plated and screened as above except that the filters were hybridized at 60° C. using Rapid Hyb buffer as above for at least two hours. The probe was an antisense oligonucleotide to the 5′ end of clone 54, and was radiolabeled at the 5′ end using standard methods as follows. About 170 ng of the probe was incubated at about 37° C. for about one hour in a solution containing about 200 μCi of 32-P labeled ATP (Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and about 20 U of Polynucleotide Kinase (Boehringer Manheim, Indianapolis, Ind.), using a buffer provided by the manufacturer. Radiolabeled oligonucleotide was separated from unincorporated nucleotide by centrifugation through a G25 Quickspin column (Boehringer Manheim) according to the manufacturer's protocol.

To identify the 3′ region of the human TRIP1 gene, a sense oligonucleotide corresponding to the 3′ end of clone 54 and an oligonucleotide sequence corresponding to the PSPORT polylinker were used in a PCR reaction. The same 96 well pools were used as a template for PCR reactions.

PCR conditions were: 30 cycles, 94° C. for 20 seconds; 55° C. for 10 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds. Samples were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

A 3 kb PCR product was identified from DNA pool 63. This pool was then plated and screened as above. The probe for this reaction was a sense oligonucleotide to the 3′ end of clone 54 which was radiolabeled at the 5′ end using standard methods. Two colonies containing DNA clones which strongly hybridized to the probe were identified then sequenced in their entirety. These clones were termed 96 and 63.

To identify the remaining 3′ portion of the coding sequence, another round of PCR was conducted. Here, the primers used were (1) a sense oligonucleotide to the 3′ end of clone 63 and (2) an oligonucleotide corresponding to the SP6 of the PSPORT vector. PCR conditions were: 30 cycles, 94° C. for 20 seconds; 55° C. for 10 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds. The templates for PCR were the same 96 well pools. Samples were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. An approximately 200 bp fragment was identified in pool 15. This pool was then plated and screened as above by hybridizing the filters with a radiolabeled probe. The probe for this reaction was a sense oligonucleotide to the 3′ end of clone 63 which was radiolabeled at the 5′ end using standard methods. This clone, clone 15, was sequenced in its entirety and was found to possess a termination codon.

3. Murine TRIP1 Protein Preparation

A truncated version of murine TRIP1 protein encoding amino acids 1-871 was prepared as follows. The DNA encoding this region was obtained by PCR using the following two oligonucleotides: (1) an oligonucleotide encoding a SalI restriction site followed by the first six amino acids of murine TRIP1 and (2) an oligonucleotide corresponding to amino acids 866-871 followed by a TAG stop codon and a SalI restriction site. The template for this reaction were clones cm1-85-g3, cm3-1-e4 and bmst2-15-g6. PCR reactions were 15 cycles, 94° C. for 20 seconds, 55° C. for 10 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds.

This reaction resulted in a band of approximately 2.6 kb on an agarose gel. This band was purified from the gel, digested with SalI and cloned into the XhoI site of the vector pCR3MycTag. pCR3MycTag was prepared as follows. The vector pCR3 (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) was digested with KpnI and XhoI. A nucleic acid molecule encoding two copies of the c-myc epitope and an initiation Methionine was inserted into pCR3. The sequence of this insert is set forth below as SEQ ID NO:12. The resulting plasmid containing the TRIP1 insert (cDNA encoding amino acids 1-871) was termed pCR3MycTag2.

GGTACCGCCAGCCGAGCCACATCGCTCAGACACCATGATCGCAAATGTGAATATT GCTCAGGAACAAAAGCTTATTTCTGAAGAAGACTTGGCTCAGGAACAAAAGCTTA TTTCTGAAGAAGACTTGGCTCAGCAGAGTGGCGGAGGACTCGAG (SEQ ID NO:12)

A second plasmid, pCR3MycTag3, which contained the CDNA encoding full length murine TRIP1, was prepared as follows. The plasmid pCR3MycTag2 was digested with EcoRI and XbaI (which served to delete the CDNA encoding amino acids 816-871 from the vector), and an XbaI/SalI linker was ligated into the digested plasmid. An EcoRI/SalI fragment 5.4 of clone cm3-1-e4 (corresponding to amino acids 816 to 2627 of murine TRIP1) was ligated into the vector. The resulting plasmid, pCR3MycTag3, has the following components (from 5′ to 3′): an initiation codon, two c-myc epitopes, and the full length murine TRIP1 cDNA.

Full length and truncated (amino acids 1-871) murine TRIP1 protein was prepared as follows. Plasmid DNA from pCR3MycTag2 and pCR3MycTag3 was transfected into murine neuroblastoma N2A cells (American Type Culture Collection, catalog no. CCL131) by lipofection using the Perfect Lipid Transfection kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.). These cells are commonly used for transient and stable expression of foreign proteins. About 24 hours prior to transfection, the cells were seeded at about 700,000 per 100 mm dish in DMEM plus ten percent fetal calf serum, and PSG (penicillin, streptomycin, and glutamine). For lipofection, the cells were placed in about 6 ml of Optimem I reduced serum medium (Gibco/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) and about 174 μg of Pfx-6 (Invitrogen) and 29 μg of DNA were added. The cells were incubated for about 4 hours after which time the medium was replaced with fresh DMEM, fetal calf serum, and PSG medium as described above. The cells were harvested after about 24 hours, and were lysed using a Qiagen shredder (Qiagen, Chatsworth, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Protein lysates were electrophoresed by 6 percent SDS-PAGE, transferred to a nylon membrane using standard methods, and incubated with a mouse monoclonal anti-myc antibody (Oncogene Research Products, Cambridge, Mass.). Binding of the anti-myc antibody was detected with a HRP-conjugated secondary antibody, and the complex was visualized using ECL (Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.) following the manufacturer's protocol. Cells transfected with the vector containing the TRIP1 truncated cDNA showed a prominent band of about 97 kD (corresponding to a polypeptide of about 871 amino acids), while cells transfected with the vector containing full length TRIP1 showed a prominent band of about 280 kD (corresponding to a polypeptide of about 2625 amino acids). These results indicated that TRIP1 truncated or full length protein was expressed in the cells.

4. Murine TRIP1 RNA-Binding Assay

To determine whether mTRIP1 had a specific interaction with the RNA molecule known to be mouse telomerase RNA, the three hybrid assay as described by SenGupta et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 93:8496-8501 [1996]) was used. The starting plasmid described by SenGupta et al., pMS2-2, was altered by inserting, using standard ligation methods, a DNA encoding the full length mouse telomerase RNA transcript (mTR; Blasco et al., Science, 269:1267-1270 [1995]) into the Smal polylinker site of pMS2-2 in the same orientation as the two MS2 DNA sequences at the 3′ end of the polylinker region. (The RNA molecules α-mTR, TLC1, IRE and the mutant mTR molecules, all described in Table I below, were constructed in this same manner; U2, U4, and U6 were similarly tagged with the MS2 hairpins, but were inserted into a different URA3 selectable yeast plasmid, pRS316 [Sikorski et al., Genetics, 122:19-27, 1989]).

After this ligation, the resultant plasmid was digested with EcoRI, and the approximately 700 base pair (bp) fragment containing 5′ to 3′, mTR and the two MS2 DNA sequences, was isolated by standard agarose gel purification methods. This 700 bp fragment was then inserted into plasmid pIIIEx426 (SenGupta et al., supra) which had been previously digested with EcoRI. This plasmid was referred to as pIII-mTR.

A second plasmid was also prepared as follows. The starting plasmid was pACTII (Legrain et al., Nuc. Acids Res., 22:3241-3242 [1994]). pACTII was first digested with the enzyme BamHI, and the ends were blunted using T4 DNA polymerase. An SspI/XbaI fragment of plasmid pCR3MycTag2 (see above) was isolated using standard gel purification methods and blunt ended using T4 DNA polymerase. This fragment, which was about 2739 bp, contained 126 bp (42 amino acids) of vector sequence at the 5′ end and the first 871 amino acids of mTRIP1. The fragment was inserted into the BamHI digested pACTII, and the resultant plasmid was referred to as pACTII/MTRIP1-S/X.

Plasmids pACTII/MTRIP1-S/X and pIII-mTR were introduced into yeast cells (strain L40-coat; SenGupta et al., supra) which had been cultured in standard yeast media (YEPD; Sherman et al., Meth. Yeast Genet., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. [1983]). Introduction (also referred to as transformation) of the plasmids was accomplished using standard methods such as those described by Chen et al. (Curr. Genet., 21:83-84 [1992]). Co-transformants (i.e., those yeast cells that contained both introduced plasmids) were selected by culturing the cells on yeast agar plates lacking leucine and uracil (SD-ura-leu; Sherman et al., supra) for two days at about 30° C. Eight separate, randomly selected colonies of cells that grew on these plates were repatched on fresh SD-ura-leu plates, and incubated as above. A small portion of each colony was plated on to yeast agar plates lacking uracil, leucine, histidine, and containing 5-20 mM 3-aminotriazole (Sigma, ST. Louis, Mo.), and the plates were incubated 3 days at about 30° C., after which time the number of colonies that grew (out of a total of eight) was assessed.

The results are shown in Table II below.

TABLE II INTERACTION RNA PROTEIN 5 mM 10 mM 20 mM mTR mTRIP1 8/8 8/8 8/8 mTR-1 mTRIP1 8/8 8/8 8/8 mTR-3 mTRIP1 8/8 8/8 8/8 mTR-27 mTRIP1 8/8 8/8 8/8 U2 mTRIP1 0/8 0/8 0/8 U4 mTRIP1 0/8 0/8 0/8 U6 mTRIP1 0/8 0/8 0/8 TLC1 mTRIP1 0/8 0/8 0/8 α-mTR mTRIP1 0/8 0/8 0/8 mTR-1 IRP 0/8 0/8 0/8 IRE IRP 8/8 8/8 8/8 IRE mTRIP1 7/8 7/8 7/8 MS2 mTRIP1 7/8 6/8 5/8

In Table II, the column labeled “RNA” refers to the MS2 tagged RNA molecules that were tested. mTR is wild type mouse telomerase RNA; mTR-1 is a substitution mutant of mTR and contains a T instead of a C at position 142 (relative to the transcription start site; see Blasco et al. supra), a C instead of a G at position 202, and an A instead of a G at position 227; mTR-3 contains an A instead of a G at position 272 and is also an insertion mutant of mTR in which two nucleotides, A and G, were inserted after nucleotide 268 in the mTR transcript (Blasco et al., supra); mTR-27 is a substitution mutant of mTR that contains an A instead of a G at position 33; U2, U4, and U6 are snRNAs (Ares, Cell, 47:44-59 [1986]; Tollervey et al., Cell, 35:753-762 [1983]; Brow et al., Nature, 334:213-218 [1988]); TLC1 is the yeast telomerase RNA gene (Singer et al., Science, 266:404-409 [1994]); α-mTR is the mTR sequence cloned in the anti-sense direction relative to the MS2 hairpins; IRE is the rat iron regulatory element RNA (Fields et al., supra); and MS2 refers to the MS2 hairpins without additional RNA attached.

The column labeled “Protein” refers to proteins that were co-introduced along with the test RNA molecules to evaluate RNA-protein interaction in the three hybrid assay. “mTRIP1” is the amino terminal fragment of the mTRIP1 gene and consists of the amino terminal 871 amino acids of the protein; and IRP is the iron regulatory element binding protein (SenGupta et al., supra).

The column labeled “Interaction” refers to the concentration (5, 10, or 20 mM) of 3-aminotriazole on the yeast agar plates.

The number of colonies of out a total of eight that showed detectable growth after 3 days is indicated for each RNA/protein pair. As can be seen, the mouse telomerase RNA, whether wild type or mutant, specifically interacted with mTRIP1. With the exception of IRE, the other RNA molecules, U2, U4, U6, TLC1, and α-mTR, did not interact with mTRIP1. MS2 alone interacted with mTRIP1 to some degree at low concentrations of 3-aminotriazole. Specificity of binding of mTR was further confirmed by demonstrating that IRP, which is known to interact with IRE (and was therefore used as a positive control), did not interact with mTR-1.

Deposit of TRIP1 cDNA

E. coli cells containing the plasmid pCR3 with the insert TRIP1 MycTag3 (encoding mouse full length TRIP1 polypeptide) has been deposited with the ATCC (American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va., USA) on Nov. 8, 1996 as accession number 98250. In addition, four separate clones of E coli cells containing the plasmid pSPORT into which a portion of the human TRIP1 cDNA coding sequence were deposited with the ATCC on the same date. Clone 15 contains CDNA encoding amino acids 1046-2627 and has ATCC accession number 98254; clone 54 contains cDNA encoding amino acids 423-1467 and has ATCC accession number 98253; clone 63 contains CDNA encoding amino acids 1346-2488 and has ATCC accession number 98252; and clone 96 contains CDNA encoding amino acids 1-567 and has ATCC accession number 98251.

12 7881 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA unknown 1 ATGGAAAAAC TCCATGGGCA TGTGTCTGCC CATCCAGACA TCCTCTCCTT GGAGAACCGG 60 TGCCTGGCTA TGCTCCCTGA CTTACAGCCC TTGGAGAAAC TACATCAGCA TGTATCTACC 120 CACTCAGATA TCCTCTCCTT GAAGAACCAG TGCCTAGCCA CGCTTCCTGA CCTGAAGACC 180 ATGGAAAAAC CACATGGATA TGTGTCTGCC CACCCAGACA TCCTCTCCTT GGAGAACCAG 240 TGCCTGGCCA CACTTTCTGA CCTGAAGACC ATGGAGAAAC CACATGGACA TGTTTCTGCC 300 CACCCAGACA TCCTCTCCTT GGAGAACCGG TGCCTGGCCA CCCTCCCTAG TCTAAAGAGC 360 ACTGTGTCTG CCAGCCCCTT GTTCCAGAGT CTACAGATAT CTCACATGAC GCAAGCTGAT 420 TTGTACCGTG TGAACAACAG CAATTGCCTG CTCTCTGAGC CTCCAAGTTG GAGGGCTCAG 480 CATTTCTCTA AGGGACTAGA CCTTTCAACC TGCCCTATAG CCCTGAAATC CATCTCTGCC 540 ACAGAGACAG CTCAGGAAGC AACTTTGGGT CGTTGGTTTG ATTCAGAAGA GAAGAAAGGG 600 GCAGAGACCC AAATGCCTTC TTATAGTCTG AGCTTGGGAG AGGAGGAGGA GGTGGAGGAT 660 CTGGCCGTGA AGCTCACCTC TGGAGACTCT GAATCTCATC CAGAGCCTAC TGACCATGTC 720 CTTCAGGAAA AGAAGATGGC TCTACTGAGC TTGCTGTGCT CTACTCTGGT CTCAGAAGTA 780 AACATGAACA ATACATCTGA CCCCACCCTG GCTGCCATTT TTGAAATCTG TCGTGAACTT 840 GCCCTCCTGG AGCCTGAGTT TATCCTCAAG GCATCTTTGT ATGCCAGGCA GCAGCTGAAC 900 GTCCGGAATG TGGCCAATAA CATCTTGGCC ATTGCTGCTT TCTTGCCGGC GTGTCGCCCC 960 CACCTGCGAC GATATTTCTG TGCCATTGTC CAGCTGCCTT CTGACTGGAT CCAGGTGGCT 1020 GAGCTTTACC AGAGCCTGGC TGAGGGAGAT AAGAATAAGC TGGTGCCCCT GCCCGCCTGT 1080 CTCCGTACTG CCATGACGGA CAAATTTGCC CAGTTTGACG AGTACCAGCT GGCTAAGTAC 1140 AACCCTCGGA AGCACCGGGC CAAGAGACAC CCCCGCCGGC CACCCCGCTC TCCAGGGATG 1200 GAGCCTCCAT TTTCTCACAG ATGTTTTCCA AGGTACATAG GGTTTCTCAG AGAAGAGCAG 1260 AGAAAGTTTG AGAAGGCCGG TGATACAGTG TCAGAGAAAA AGAATCCTCC AAGGTTCACC 1320 CTGAAGAAGC TGGTTCAGCG ACTGCACATC CACAAGCCTG CCCAGCACGT TCAAGCCCTG 1380 CTGGGTTACA GATACCCCTC CAACCTACAG CTCTTTTCTC GAAGTCGCCT TCCTGGGCCT 1440 TGGGATTCTA GCAGAGCTGG GAAGAGGATG AAGCTGTCTA GGCCAGAGAC CTGGGAGCGG 1500 GAGCTGAGCC TACGGGGGAA CAAAGCGTCG GTCTGGGAGG AACTCATTGA AAATGGGAAG 1560 CTTCCCTTCA TGGCCATGCT TCGGAACCTG TGCAACCTGC TGCGGGTTGG AATCAGTTCC 1620 CGCCACCATG AGCTCATTCT CCAGAGACTC CAGCATGGGA AGTCGGTGAT CCACAGTCGG 1680 CAGTTTCCAT TCAGATTTCT TAACGCCCAT GATGCCATTG ATGCCCTCGA GGCTCAACTC 1740 AGAAATCAAG CATTGCCCTT TCCTTCGAAT ATAACACTGA TGAGGCGGAT ACTAACTAGA 1800 AATGAAAAGA ACCGTCCCAG GCGGAGGTTT CTTTGCCACC TAAGCCGTCA GCAGCTTCGT 1860 ATGGCAATGA GGATACCTGT GTTGTATGAG CAGCTCAAGA GGGAGAAGCT GAGAGTACAC 1920 AAGGCCAGAC AGTGGAAATA TGATGGTGAG ATGCTGAACA GGTACCGACA GGCCCTAGAG 1980 ACAGCTGTGA ACCTCTCTGT GAAGCACAGC CTGCCCCTGC TGCCAGGCCG CACTGTCTTG 2040 GTCTATCTGA CAGATGCTAA TGCAGACAGG CTCTGTCCAA AGAGCAACCC ACAAGGGCCC 2100 CCGCTGAACT ATGCACTGCT GTTGATTGGG ATGATGATCA CGAGGGCGGA GCAGGTGGAC 2160 GTCGTGCTGT GTGGAGGTGA CACTCTGAAG ACTGCAGTGC TTAAGGCAGA AGAAGGCATC 2220 CTGAAGACTG CCATCAAGCT CCAGGCTCAA GTCCAGGAGT TTGATGAAAA TGATGGATGG 2280 TCCCTGAATA CTTTTGGGAA ATACCTGCTG TCTCTGGCTG GCCAAAGGGT TCCTGTGGAC 2340 AGGGTCATCC TCCTTGGCCA AAGCATGGAT GATGGAATGA TAAATGTGGC CAAACAGCTT 2400 TACTGGCAGC GTGTGAATTC CAAGTGCCTC TTTGTTGGTA TCCTCCTAAG AAGGGTACAA 2460 TACCTGTCAA CAGATTTGAA TCCCAATGAT GTGACACTCT CAGGCTGTAC TGATGCGATA 2520 CTGAAGTTCA TTGCAGAGCA TGGGGCCTCC CATCTTCTGG AACATGTGGG CCAAATGGAC 2580 AAAATATTCA AGATTCCACC ACCCCCAGGA AAGACAGGGG TCCAGTCTCT CCGGCCACTG 2640 GAAGAGGACA CTCCAAGCCC CTTGGCTCCT GTTTCCCAGC AAGGATGGCG CAGCATCCGG 2700 CTTTTCATTT CATCCACTTT CCGAGACATG CACGGGGAGC GGGACCTGCT GCTGAGGTCT 2760 GTGCTGCCAG CACTGCAGGC CCGAGCGGCC CCTCACCGTA TCAGCCTTCA CGGAATCGAC 2820 CTCCGCTGGG GCGTCACTGA GGAGGAGACC CGTAGGAACA GACAACTGGA AGTGTGCCTT 2880 GGGGAGGTGG AGAACGCACA GCTGTTTGTG GGGATTCTGG GCTCCCGTTA TGGATACATT 2940 CCCCCCAGCT ACAACCTTCC TGACCATCCA CACTTCCACT GGGCCCAGCA GTACCCTTCA 3000 GGGCGCTCTG TGACAGAGAT GGAGGTGATG CAGTTCCTGA ACCGGAACCA ACGTCTGCAG 3060 CCCTCTGCCC AAGCTCTCAT CTACTTCCGG GATTCCAGCT TCCTCAGCTC TGTGCCAGAT 3120 GCCTGGAAAT CTGACTTTGT TTCTGAGTCT GAAGAGGCCG CATGTCGGAT CTCAGAACTG 3180 AAGAGCTACC TAAGCAGACA GAAAGGGATA ACCTGCCGCA GATACCCCTG TGAGTGGGGG 3240 GGTGTGGCAG CTGGCCGGCC CTATGTTGGC GGGCTGGAGG AGTTTGGGCA GTTGGTTCTG 3300 CAGGATGTAT GGAATATGAT CCAGAAGCTC TACCTGCAGC CTGGGGCCCT GCTGGAGCAG 3360 CCAGTGTCCA TCCCAGACGA TGACTTGGTC CAGGCCACCT TCCAGCAGCT GCAGAAGCCA 3420 CCGAGTCCTG CCCGGCCACG CCTTCTTCAG GACACAGTGC AACAGCTGAT GCTGCCCCAC 3480 GGAAGGCTGA GCCTGGTGAC GGGGCAGTCA GGACAGGGCA AGACAGCCTT CCTGGCATCT 3540 CTTGTGTCAG CCCTGCAGGC TCCTGATGGG GCCAAGGTGG CACCATTAGT CTTCTTCCAC 3600 TTTTCTGGGG CTCGTCCTGA CCAGGGTCTT GCCCTCACTC TGCTCAGACG CCTCTGTACC 3660 TATCTGCGTG GCCAACTAAA AGAGCCAGGT GCCCTCCCCA GCACCTACCG AAGCCTGGTG 3720 TGGGAGCTGC AGCAGAGGCT GCTGCCCAAG TCTGCTGAGT CCCTGCATCC TGGCCAGACC 3780 CAGGTCCTGA TCATCGATGG GGCTGATAGG TTAGTGGACC AGAATGGGCA GCTGATTTCA 3840 GACTGGATCC CAAAGAAGCT TCCCCGGTGT GTACACCTGG TGCTGAGTGT GTCTAGTGAT 3900 GCAGGCCTAG GGGAGACCCT TGAGCAGAGC CAGGGTGCCC ACGTGCTGGC CTTGGGGCCT 3960 CTGGAGGCCT CTGCTCGGGC CCGGCTGGTG AGAGAGGAGC TGGCCCTGTA CGGGAAGCGG 4020 CTGGAGGAGT CACCATTTAA CAACCAGATG CGACTGCTGC TGGTGAAGCG GGAATCAGGC 4080 CGGCCGCTCT ACCTGCGCTT GGTCACCGAT CACCTGAGGC TCTTCACGCT GTATGAGCAG 4140 GTGTCTGAGA GACTCCGGAC CCTGCCTGCC ACTGTCCCCC TGCTGCTGCA GCACATCCTG 4200 AGCACACTGG AGAAGGAGCA CGGGCCTGAT GTCCTTCCCC AGGCCTTGAC TGCCCTAGAA 4260 GTCACACGGA GTGGTTTGAC TGTGGACCAG CTGCACGGAG TGCTGAGTGT GTGGCGGACA 4320 CTACCGAAGG GGACTAAGAG CTGGGAAGAA GCAGTGGCTG CTGGTAACAG TGGAGACCCC 4380 TACCCCATGG GCCCGTTTGC CTGCCTCGTC CAGAGTCTGC GCAGTTTGCT AGGGGAGGGC 4440 CCTCTGGAGC GCCCTGGTGC CCGGCTGTGC CTCCCTGATG GGCCCCTGAG AACAGCAGCT 4500 AAACGTTGCT ATGGGAAGAG GCCAGGGCTA GAGGACACGG CACACATCCT CATTGCAGCT 4560 CAGCTCTGGA AGACATGTGA CGCTGATGCC TCAGGCACCT TCCGAAGTTG CCCTCCTGAG 4620 GCTCTGGGAG ACCTGCCTTA CCACCTGCTC CAGAGCGGGA ACCGTGGACT TCTTTCGAAG 4680 TTCCTTACCA ACCTCCATGT GGTGGCTGCA CACTTGGAAT TGGGTCTGGT CTCTCGGCTC 4740 TTGGAGGCCC ATGCCCTCTA TGCTTCTTCA GTCCCCAAAG AGGAACAAAA GCTCCCCGAG 4800 GCTGACGTTG CAGTGTTTCG CACCTTCCTG AGGCAGCAGG CTTCAATCCT CAGCCAGTAC 4860 CCCCGGCTCC TGCCCCAGCA GGCAGCCAAC CAGCCCCTGG ACTCACCTCT TTGCCACCAA 4920 GCCTCGCTGC TCTCCCGGAG ATGGCACCTC CAACACACAC TACGATGGCT TAATAAACCC 4980 CGGACCATGA AAAATCAGCA AAGCTCCAGC CTGTCTCTGG CAGTTTCCTC ATCCCCTACT 5040 GCTGTGGCCT TCTCCACCAA TGGGCAAAGA GCAGCTGTGG GCACTGCCAA TGGGACAGTT 5100 TACCTGTTGG ACCTGAGAAC TTGGCAGGAG GAGAAGTCTG TGGTGAGTGG CTGTGATGGA 5160 ATCTCTGCTT GTTTGTTCCT CTCCGATGAT ACACTCTTTC TTACTGCCTT CGACGGGCTC 5220 CTGGAGCTCT GGGACCTGCA GCATGGTTGT CGGGTGCTGC AGACTAAGGC TCACCAGTAC 5280 CAAATCACTG GCTGCTGCCT GAGCCCAGAC TGCCGGCTGC TAGCCACCGT GTGCTTGGGA 5340 GGATGCCTAA AGCTGTGGGA CACAGTCCGT GGGCAGCTGG CCTTCCAGCA CACCTACCCC 5400 AAGTCCCTGA ACTGTGTTGC CTTCCACCCA GAGGGGCAGG TAATAGCCAC AGGCAGCTGG 5460 GCTGGCAGCA TCAGCTTCTT CCAGGTGGAT GGGCTCAAAG TCACCAAGGA CCTGGGGGCA 5520 CCCGGAGCCT CTATCCGTAC CTTGGCCTTC AATGTGCCTG GGGGGGTTGT GGCTGTGGGC 5580 CGGCTGGACA GTATGGTGGA GCTGTGGGCC TGGCGAGAAG GGGCACGGCT GGCTGCCTTC 5640 CCTGCCCACC ATGGCTTTGT TGCTGCTGCG CTTTTCCTGC ATGCGGGTTG CCAGTTACTG 5700 ACGGCTGGAG AGGATGGCAA GGTTCAGGTG TGGTCAGGGT CTCTGGGTCG GCCCCGTGGG 5760 CACCTGGGTT CCCTTTCTCT CTCTCCTGCC CTCTCTGTGG CACTCAGCCC AGATGGTGAT 5820 CGGGTGGCTG TTGGATATCG AGCGGATGGC ATTAGGATCT ACAAAATCTC TTCAGGTTCC 5880 CAGGGGGCTC AGGGTCAGGC ACTGGATGTG GCAGTGTCCG CCCTGGCCTG GCTAAGCCCC 5940 AAGGTATTGG TGAGTGGTGC AGAAGATGGG TCCTTGCAGG GCTGGGCACT CAAGGAATGC 6000 TCCCTTCAGT CCCTCTGGCT CCTGTCCAGA TTCCAGAAGC CTGTGCTAGG ACTGGCCACT 6060 TCCCAGGAGC TCTTGGCTTC TGCCTCAGAG GATTTCACAG TGCAGCTGTG GCCAAGGCAG 6120 CTGCTGACGC GGCCACACAA GGCAGAAGAC TTTCCCTGTG GCACTGAGCT GCGGGGACAT 6180 GAGGGCCCTG TGAGCTGCTG TAGTTTCAGC ACTGATGGAG GCAGCCTGGC CACCGGGGGC 6240 CGGGATCGGA GTCTCCTCTG CTGGGACGTG AGGACACCCA AAACCCCTGT TTTGATCCAC 6300 TCCTTCCCTG CCTGTCACCG TGACTGGGTC ACTGGCTGTG CCTGGACCAA AGATAACCTA 6360 CTGATATCCT GCTCCAGTGA TGGCTCTGTG GGGCTCTGGG ACCCAGAGTC AGGACAGCGG 6420 CTTGGTCAGT TCCTGGGTCA TCAGAGTGCT GTGAGCGCTG TGGCAGCTGT GGAGGAGCAC 6480 GTGGTGTCTG TGAGCCGGGA TGGGACCTTG AAAGTGTGGG ACCATCAAGG CGTGGAGCTG 6540 ACCAGCATCC CTGCTCACTC AGGACCCATT AGCCACTGTG CAGCTGCCAT GGAGCCCCGT 6600 GCAGCTGGAC AGCCTGGGTC AGAGCTTCTG GTGGTAACCG TCGGGCTAGA TGGGGCCACA 6660 CGGTTATGGC ATCCACTCTT GGTGTGCCAA ACCCACACCC TCCTGGGACA CAGCGGCCCA 6720 GTCCGTGCTG CTGCTGTTTC AGAAACCTCA GGCCTCATGC TGACCGCCTC TGAGGATGGT 6780 TCTGTACGGC TCTGGCAGGT TCCTAAGGAA GCAGATGACA CATGTATACC AAGGAGTTCT 6840 GCAGCCGTCA CTGCTGTGGC TTGGGCACCA GATGGTTCCA TGGCAGTATC TGGAAATCAA 6900 GCTGGGGAAC TAATCTTGTG GCAGGAAGCT AAGGCTGTGG CCACAGCACA GGCTCCAGGC 6960 CACATTGGTG CTCTGATCTG GTCCTCGGCA CACACCTTTT TTGTCCTCAG TGCTGATGAG 7020 AAAATCAGCG AGTGGCAAGT GAAACTGCGG AAGGGTTCGG CACCCGGAAA TTTGAGTCTT 7080 CACCTGAACC GAATTCTACA GGAGGACTTA GGGGTGCTGA CAAGTCTGGA TTGGGCTCCT 7140 GATGGTCACT TTCTCATCTT GGCCAAAGCA GATTTGAAGT TACTTTGCAT GAAGCCAGGG 7200 GATGCTCCAT CTGAAATCTG GAGCAGCTAT ACAGAAAATC CTATGATATT GTCCACCCAC 7260 AAGGAGTATG GCATATTTGT CCTGCAGCCC AAGGATCCTG GAGTTCTTTC TTTCTTGAGG 7320 CAAAAGGAAT CAGGAGAGTT TGAAGAGAGG CTGAACTTTG ATATAAACTT AGAGAATCCT 7380 AGTAGGACCC TAATATCGAT AACTCAAGCC AAACCTGAAT CTGAGTCCTC ATTTTTGTGT 7440 GCCAGCTCTG ATGGGATCCT ATGGAACCTG GCCAAATGCA GCCCAGAAGG AGAATGGACC 7500 ACAGGTAACA TGTGGCAGAA AAAAGCAAAC ACTCCAGAAA CCCAAACTCC AGGGACAGAC 7560 CCATCTACCT GCAGGGAATC TGATGCCAGC ATGGATAGTG ATGCCAGCAT GGATAGTGAG 7620 CCAACACCAC ATCTAAAGAC ACGGCAGCGT AGAAAGATTC ACTCGGGCTC TGTCACAGCC 7680 CTCCATGTGC TACCTGAGTT GCTGGTGACA GCTTCGAAGG ACAGAGATGT TAAGCTATGG 7740 GAGAGACCCA GTATGCAGCT GCTGGGCCTG TTCCGATGCG AAGGGTCAGT GAGCTGCCTG 7800 GAACCTTGGC TGGGCGCTAA CTCCACCCTG CAGCTTGCCG TGGGAGACGT GCAGGGCAAT 7860 GTGTACTTTC TGAATTGGGA A 7881 7886 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA unknown 2 ATGGAGAAGC TCTGTGGGCA TGTGCCTGGC CATTCAGACA TCCTCTCCTT GAAGAACCGG 60 TGCCTGACCA TGCTCCCTGA CCTCCAGCCC CTGGAGAAAA TACATGGACA TAGATCTGTC 120 CACTCAGACA TCCTTTCCTT GGAGAACCAG TGTCTGACCA TGCTCTCTGA CCTCCAGCCC 180 ACGGAGAGAA TAGATGGGCA TATATCTGTC CACCCAGACA TCCTCTCCTT GGAGAATCGG 240 TGCCTGACCA TGCTCCCTGA CCTCCAGCCT CTGGAGAAGC TATGTGGACA TATGTCTAGT 300 CATCCAGACG TCCTTTCTTT GGAAAACCAA TGTCTAGCTA CTCTCCCCAC TGTAAAGAGC 360 ACTGCATTGA CCAGCCCCTT GCTCCAGGGT CTTCACATAT CTCATACGGC ACAAGCTGAT 420 CTGCATAGCC TGAAAACTAG CAACTGCCTG CTCCCTGAGC TTCCTACCAA GAAGACTCCA 480 TGTTTCTCTG AGGAACTAGA CCTTCCACCT GGACCCAGGG CCCTGAAATC CATGTCTGCT 540 ACAGCTCAAG TCCAGGAAGT AGCCTTGGGT CAATGGTGTG TCTCCAAAGA AAAGGAATTT 600 CAAGAAGAAG AAAGCACAGA AGTCCCATGC CTTTGTACAG TCTAAGCTTG GAAGAAGAAG 660 AAGTGGAGGC ACCGGTCTTA AAACTCACAT CTGGAGACTC TGGCTTTCAT CCTGAAACCA 720 CTGACCAGGT CCTTCAGGAG AAGAAGATGG CTCTCTTGAC CTTACTCTGC TCTGCTCTGG 780 CCTCAAATGT GAATGTGAAA GATGCATCTG ACCTTACCCG GGCATCCATC CTTGAAGTCT 840 GTAGTGCCCT GGCCTCCTTG GAACCGGAGT TCATCCTTAA GGCATCTTTG TATGCTCGGC 900 AGCAACTTAA CCTCCGGGAC ATCGCCAATA CAGTTCTGGC TGTGGCTGCC CTCTTGCCAG 960 CCTGCCGCCC CCATGTACGA CGGTATTACT CCGCCATTGT TCACCTGCCT TCAGACTGGA 1020 TCCAGGTAGC CGAGTTCTAC CAGAGCCTGG CAGAAGGGGA TGAGAAGAAG TTGGTGTCCC 1080 TGCCTGCCTG TCTCCGAGCT GCCATGACCG ACAAATTTGC CGAGTTTGAT GAGTACCAGC 1140 TAGCTAAGTA CAACCCACGG AAACATCGGT CCAAGAGGCG GTCCCGCCAG CCACCCCGCC 1200 CTCAAAAGAC AGAACGTCCA TTTTCAGAGA GAGGGAAATG TTTTCCAAAG AGCCTTTGGC 1260 CCCTTAAAAA TGAACAGATT ACGTTTGAAG CAGCTTATAA TGCAATGCCA GAGAAAAACA 1320 GGCTACCACG GTTCACTCTG AAGAAGTTGG TAGAGTATCT ACATATCCAC AAGCCTGCTC 1380 AGCACGTCCA GGCCCTGCTG GGCTACAGGT ACCCAGCCAC CCTAGAGCTC TTTTCTCGGA 1440 GTCACCTCCC TGGGCCGTGG GAGTCTAGCA GAGCTGGTCA GCGGATGAAG CTCCGAAGGC 1500 CAGAGACCTG GGAGCGGGAG CTGAGTTTAC GGGGAAACAA AGCTTCTGTG TGGGAGGAGC 1560 TCATAGACAA TGGGAAACTG CCCTTCATGG CCATGCTCCG GAACCTGTGT AACCTGCTGC 1620 GGACTGGGAT CAGTGCCCGC CACCATGAAC TCGTTCTCCA GAGACTCCAG CATGAGAAAT 1680 CTGTGGTTCA CAGTCGGCAG TTTCCATTCA GATTCCTTAA TGCTCATGAC TCTATCGATA 1740 AACTTGAGGC TCAGCTCAGA AGCAAAGCAT CACCCTTCCC TTCCAATACA ACATTGATGA 1800 AACGGATAAT GATTAGAAAC TCAAAAAAAA ATAGGAGGCC TGCCAGTCGG AAGCACCTGT 1860 GCACCCTGAC GCGCCGGCAG CTTCGGGCAG CAATGACTAT ACCTGTGATG TATGAGCAGC 1920 TCAAGCGGGA GAAACTGAGG CTGCACAAGG CCAGACAATG GAACTGTGAT GTTGAGTTGC 1980 TGGAGCGCTA TCGCCAGGCC CTGGAAACAG CTGTGAACCT CTCAGTAAAG CACAACCTAT 2040 CCCCGATGCC TGGCCGAACC CTCTTGGTCT ATCTCACAGA TGCAAATGCC GACAGGCTCT 2100 GTCCCAAGAG TCACTCACAA GGGCCTCCCC TGAACTATGT GCTGCTGCTG ATCGGAATGA 2160 TGGTGGCTCG AGCCGAGCAA GTGACTGTTT GCTTGTGTGG GGGAGGATTT GTGAAGACAC 2220 CGGTACTTAC AGCCGATGAA GGCATCCTGA AGACTGCCAT CAAACTTCAG GCTCAAGTCC 2280 AGGAGTTAGA AGGCAATGAT GAGTGGCCCC TGGACACTTT TGGGAAGTAT CTGCTGTCTC 2340 TGGCTGTCCA AAGGACCCCC ATTGACAGGG TCATCCTGTT TGGTCAAAGG ATGGATACCG 2400 AGCTCCTGAA AGTAGCCAAA CAGATTATCT GGCAGCATGT GAATTCCAAG TGCCTCTTTG 2460 TTGGTGTCCT CCTACAGAAA ACACAGTACA TATCACCAAA TTTGAATCCC AACGATGTGA 2520 CGCTCTCAGG CTGCACTGAC GGGATCCTGA AATTCATTGC CGAACATGGA GCCTCTCGTC 2580 TCCTGGAACA TGTGGGACAA CTAGATAAAC TATTCAAGAT CCCCCCACCC CCAGGAAAGA 2640 CACAGGCACC GTCTCTCCGG CCGCTGGAGG AGAACATCCC TGGTCCCTTG GGTCCTATTT 2700 CCCAGCATGG ATGGCGCAAT ATCCGGCTTT TCATTTCATC CACTTTCCGT GACATGCATG 2760 GGGAGCGAGA TTTGCTGATG AGATCTGTTC TGCCCGCACT GCAGGCCAGA GTGTTCCCCC 2820 ACCGCATCAG TCTTCACGCC ATTGACCTGC GCTGGGGTAT CACAGAGGAA GAGACCCGCA 2880 GGAACAGACA ACTGGAAGTG TGCCTTGGGG AGGTGGAGAA CTCACAGCTG TTCGTGGGGA 2940 TTCTGGGCTC CCGCTATGGC TACATTCCCC CCAGCTATGA TCTTCCTGAT CATCCCCACT 3000 TTCACTGGAC CCATGAGTAC CCTTCAGGGC GATCCGTGAC AGAGATGGAG GTGATGCAAT 3060 TCCTGAACCG TGGCCAACGC TCGCAGCCTT CGGCCCAAGC TCTCATCTAC TTCCGAGATC 3120 CTGATTTCCT TAGCTCTGTG CCAGATGCCT GGAAACCTGA CTTTATATCT GAGTCAGAAG 3180 AAGCTGCACA TCGGGTCTCA GAGCTGAAGA GATATCTACA CGAACAGAAA GAGGTTACCT 3240 GTCGCAGCTA CTCCTGTGAA TGGGGAGGTG TAGCGGCTGG CCGGCCCTAT ACTGGGGGCC 3300 TGGAGGAGTT TGGACAGTTG GTTCTCCAGG ATGTGTGGAG CATGATCCAG AAGCAGCACC 3360 TGCAGCCTGG GGCCCAGTTG GAGCAGCCAA CATCCATCTC AGAAGACGAT TTGATCCAGA 3420 CCAGCTTTCA GCAGCTGAAG ACCCCAACGA GTCCGGCACG GCCACGCCTT CTTCAGGATA 3480 CAGTGCAGCA GCTGTTGCTG CCCCATGGGA GGCTGAGCCT AGTGACTGGG CAGGCAGGAC 3540 AGGGAAAGAC TGCCTTTCTG GCATCCCTTG TGTCTGCCCT GAAGGTCCCT GACCAGCCCA 3600 ATGAGCCCCC GTTCGTTTTC TTCCACTTTG CAGCAGCCCG CCCTGACCAG TGTCTTGCTC 3660 TCAACCTCCT CAGACGCCTC TGTACCCATC TGCGTCAAAA ACTGGGAGAG CTGAGTGCCC 3720 TCCCCAGCAC TTACAGAGGC CTGGTGTGGG AACTGCAGCA GAAGTTGCTC CTCAAATTCG 3780 CTCAGTCGCT GCAGCCTGCT CAGACTTTGG TCCTTATCAT CGATGGGGCA GATAAGTTGG 3840 TGGATCGTAA TGGGCAGCTG ATTTCAGACT GGATCCCCAA GTCTCTTCCG CGGCGAGTAC 3900 ACCTGGTGCT GAGTGTGTCC AGTGACTCAG GCCTGGGTGA GACCCTTCAG CAAAGTCAGG 3960 GTGCTTATGT GGTGGCCTTG GGCTCTTTGG TCCCATCTTC AAGGGCTCAG CTTGTGAGAG 4020 AAGAGCTAGC ACTGTATGGG AAACGACTGG AGGAGTCACC TTTTAACAAC CAGATGCGGC 4080 TGCTGCTGGC AAAGCAGGGT TCAAGCCTGC CATTGTACCT GCACCTTGTC ACTGACTACC 4140 TGAGGCTCTT CACACTGTAT GAACAGGTGT CTGAGAGACT TCGAACCCTG CCCGCCACTC 4200 TCCCACTGCT CTTGCAGCAC ATCCTGAGCA CCTTGGAGCA AGAACATGGC CATGATGTCC 4260 TTCCTCAGGC TTTGACTGCC CTTGAGGTCA CACGAAGTGG TCTGACTGTG GACCAGCTAC 4320 ATGCAATCCT GAGCACATGG CTGATCTTGC CCAAGGAGAC TAAGAGCTGG GAAGAAGTGC 4380 TGGCTGCCAG TCACAGTGGA AACCCTTTCC CCTTGTGTCC ATTTGCCTAC CTTGTCCAGA 4440 GTCTACGCAG TTTACTAGGG GAGGGCCCAG TGGAGCGCCC TGGTGCCCGT CTCTGCCTCT 4500 CTGATGGGCC CCTGAGGACA ACAATTAAAC GTCGCTATGG GAAAAGGCTG GGGCTAGAGA 4560 AGACTGCGCA TGTCCTCATT GCAGCTCACC TCTGGAAGAC GTGTGATCCT GATGCCTCGG 4620 GCACCTTCCG AAGTTGCCCT CCTGAGGCTC TGAAAGATTT ACCTTACCAC CTGCTCCAGA 4680 GCGGGAACCA TGGTCTCCTT GCCGAGTTTC TTACCAATCT CCATGTGGTT GCTGCATATC 4740 TGGAAGTGGG TCTAGTCCCC GACCTCTTGG AGGCTCATGT GCTCTATGCT TCTTCAAAGC 4800 CTGAAGCCAA CCAGAAGCTC CCAGCGGCAG ATGTTGCTGT TTTCCATACC TTCCTGAGAC 4860 AACAGGCTTC ACTCCTTACC CAGTATCCTT TGCTCCTGCT CCAGCAGGCA GCTAGCCAGC 4920 CTGAAGAGTC ACCTGTTTGC TGCCAGGCCC CCCTGCTCAC CCAGCGATGG CACGACCAGT 4980 TCACACTGAA ATGGATTAAT AAACCCCAGA CCCTGAAGGG TCAGCAAAGC TTGTCTCTGA 5040 CAATGTCCTC ATCCCCAACT GCTGTGGCCT TCTCCCCGAA TGGGCAAAGA GCAGCTGTGG 5100 GGACCGCCAG TGGGACAATT TACCTGTTGA ACTTGAAAAC CTGGCAGGAG GAGAAGGCTG 5160 TGGTGAGTGG CTGTGACGGG ATTTCCTCTT TTGCATTCCT TTCGGACACT GCCCTTTTCC 5220 TTACTACCTT CGACGGGCAC CTAGAGCTTT GGGACCTGCA ACATGGTTGT TGGGTGTTTC 5280 AGACCAAGGC CCACCAGTAC CAAATCACTG GCTGCTGCCT GAGCCCAGAC CGCCGCCTGC 5340 TGGCCACTGT GTGTTTGGGA GGATACCTAA AGCTGTGGGA CACAGTCCGA GGACAGCTGG 5400 CTTTTCAGTA CACCCATCCA AAGTCTCTCA ACTGCGTTGC CTTCCACCCA GAGGGGCAGG 5460 TGGTAGCCAC AGGCAGCTGG GCTGGCAGCA TTACCTTCTT CCAGGCAGAT GGACTCAAAG 5520 TCACCAAGGA ACTAGGGGCC CCCGGACCCT CTGTCTGTAG TTTGGCATTC AACAAACCTG 5580 GGAAGATTGT GGCTGTGGGC CGGATAGATG GGACAGTGGA GCTGTGGGCC TGGCAAGAGG 5640 GTGCCCGGCT GGCGGCCTTC CCTGCACAGT GTGGCTGTGT CTCTGCTGTT CTTTTCTTGC 5700 ATGCTGGAGA CCGGTTCCTG ACTGCTGGAG AAGATGGCAA GGCTCAGTTA TGGTCAGGAT 5760 TTCTTGGCCG GCCCAGGGGT TGCCTGGGCT CTCTTCCTCT TTCTCCTGCA CTCTCGGTGG 5820 CTCTCAACCC AGACGGTGAC CAGGTGGCTG TTGGGTACCG AGAAGATGGC ATTAACATCT 5880 ACAAGATTTC TTCAGGTTCC CAGGGGCCTC AGCATCAAGA GCTAAATGTG GCGGTGTCTG 5940 CACTGGTGTG GCTGAGCCCT AGTGTTTTGG TGAGTGGTGC AGAAGATGGA TCCCTGCATG 6000 GTTGGATGTT CAAGGGAGAC TCCCTTCATT CCCTGTGGCT GTTGTCGAGA TACCAGAAGC 6060 CTGTGCTGGG ACTGGCTGCC TCCCGGGAAC TCATGGCTGC TGCCTCAGAG GACTTCACTG 6120 TGAGACTGTG GCCCAGACAG CTGCTGACAC AGCCACATGT GCATGCGGTA GAGTTGCCCT 6180 GTTGTGCTGA ACTCCGGGGA CACGAGGGGC CAGTGTGCTG CTGTAGCTTC AGCCCTGATG 6240 GAGGCATCTT GGCCACAGCT GGCAGGGATC GGAATCTCCT TTGCTGGGAC ATGAAGATAG 6300 CCCAAGCCCC TCTCCTGATT CACACTTTCT CGTCCTGTCA TCGTGACTGG ATCACTGGCT 6360 GTGCGTGGAC CAAAGACAAC ATCCTGGTCT CCTGCTCGAG TGATGGCTCT GTGGGACTCT 6420 GGAACCCAGA GGCAGGGCAG CAACTTGGCC AGTTCTCAGG CCACCAGAGT GCCGTGAGCG 6480 CCGTGGTTGC TGTGGAGGAA CACATTGTAT CTGTGAGCCG AGATGGGACC TTGAAAGTGT 6540 GGGACCATCA GGGTGTGGAG CTGACCAGCA TCCCTGCCCA TTCCGGACCC ATCAGCCAGT 6600 GTGCAGCTGC TCTGGAGCCC CGCCCAGGGG GACAGCCTGG ATCAGAGCTT CTGGTGGTGA 6660 CTGTTGGACT AGATGGGGCC ACAAAGTTGT GGCATCCCCT GTTGGTGTGC CAAATACGTA 6720 CTCTCCAGGG ACACAGTGGC CCAGTCACAG CAGCTGCTGC TTCAGAGGCC TCAGGCCTCC 6780 TGCTGACCTC AGATGATAGC TCTGTACAGC TCTGGCAGAT ACCAAAGGAA GCAGATGATT 6840 CATACAAACC TAGGAGTTCT GTGGCCATCA CTGCTGTGGC ATGGGCACCG GATGGTTCTA 6900 TGGTGGTGTC CGGAAATGAA GCCGGGGAAC TGACACTGTG GCAGCAAGCC AAGGCTGTGG 6960 CTACCGCACA GGCTCCAGGC CGCGTCAGTC ACCTGATCTG GTACTCGGCA AATTCATTCT 7020 TCGTTCTCAG TGCTAATGAA AACGTCAGCG AGTGGCAAGT GGGACTGAGG AAAGGTTCAA 7080 CGTCCACCAG TTCCAGTCTT CATCTGAAGA GAGTTCTGCA GGAGGACTGG GGAGTCTTGA 7140 CAGGTCTGGG TCTGGCCCCT GATGGCCAGT CTCTCATCTT GATGAAAGAG GATGTGGAAT 7200 TACTAGAGAT GAAGCCTGGG TCTATTCCAT CTTCTATCTG CAGGAGGTAT GGAGTACATT 7260 CTTCAATACT GTGCACCAGC AAGGAGTACG GCTTGTTCTA CCTGCAGCAG GGGGACTCCG 7320 GATTACTTTC TATATTGGAG CAAAAGGAGT CAGGGGAGTT TGAAGAGATC CTGGACTTCA 7380 ATCTGAACTT AAATAATCCT AATGGGTCCC CAGTATCAAT CACTCAGGCC AAACCTGAGT 7440 CTGAATCATC CCTTTTGTGC GCCACCTCTG ATGGGATGCT GTGGAACTTA TCTGAATGTA 7500 CCTCAGAGGG AGAATGGATC GTAGATAACA TTTGGCAGAA AAAAGCAAAA AAACCTAAAA 7560 CTCAGACTCT GGAGACAGAG TTGTCCCCGC ACTCAGAGTT GGATTTTTCC ATTGATTGCT 7620 GGATTGATCC CACAAATTTA AAGGCACAGC AGTGTAAAAA GATCCACTTG GGCTCTGTCA 7680 CAGCCCTCCA TGTGCTTCCG GGATTGCTGG TGACAGCTTC GAAGGACAGA GATGTTAAGC 7740 TGTGGGAGAG ACCCAGTATG CAGCTGCTGG GCTTGTTCCG ATGTGAAGGG CCAGTGAGCT 7800 GTCTGGAACC TTGGATGGAG CCCAGCTCTC CCCTGCAGCT TGCTGTGGGA GACACACAAG 7860 GAAACTTGTA TTTTCTATCT TGGGAA 7886 2627 amino acids amino acid unknown unknown protein unknown 3 Met Glu Lys Leu His Gly His Val Ser Ala His Pro Asp Ile Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Glu Asn Arg Cys Leu Ala Met Leu Pro Asp Leu Gln Pro Leu Glu 20 25 30 Lys Leu His Gln His Val Ser Thr His Ser Asp Ile Leu Ser Leu Lys 35 40 45 Asn Gln Cys Leu Ala Thr Leu Pro Asp Leu Lys Thr Met Glu Lys Pro 50 55 60 His Gly Tyr Val Ser Ala His Pro Asp Ile Leu Ser Leu Glu Asn Gln 65 70 75 80 Cys Leu Ala Thr Leu Ser Asp Leu Lys Thr Met Glu Lys Pro His Gly 85 90 95 His Val Ser Ala His Pro Asp Ile Leu Ser Leu Glu Asn Arg Cys Leu 100 105 110 Ala Thr Leu Pro Ser Leu Lys Ser Thr Val Ser Ala Ser Pro Leu Phe 115 120 125 Gln Ser Leu Gln Ile Ser His Met Thr Gln Ala Asp Leu Tyr Arg Val 130 135 140 Asn Asn Ser Asn Cys Leu Leu Ser Glu Pro Pro Ser Trp Arg Ala Gln 145 150 155 160 His Phe Ser Lys Gly Leu Asp Leu Ser Thr Cys Pro Ile Ala Leu Lys 165 170 175 Ser Ile Ser Ala Thr Glu Thr Ala Gln Glu Ala Thr Leu Gly Arg Trp 180 185 190 Phe Asp Ser Glu Glu Lys Lys Gly Ala Glu Thr Gln Met Pro Ser Tyr 195 200 205 Ser Leu Ser Leu Gly Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Glu Asp Leu Ala Val Lys 210 215 220 Leu Thr Ser Gly Asp Ser Glu Ser His Pro Glu Pro Thr Asp His Val 225 230 235 240 Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Met Ala Leu Leu Ser Leu Leu Cys Ser Thr Leu 245 250 255 Val Ser Glu Val Asn Met Asn Asn Thr Ser Asp Pro Thr Leu Ala Ala 260 265 270 Ile Phe Glu Ile Cys Arg Glu Leu Ala Leu Leu Glu Pro Glu Phe Ile 275 280 285 Leu Lys Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Arg Gln Gln Leu Asn Val Arg Asn Val 290 295 300 Ala Asn Asn Ile Leu Ala Ile Ala Ala Phe Leu Pro Ala Cys Arg Pro 305 310 315 320 His Leu Arg Arg Tyr Phe Cys Ala Ile Val Gln Leu Pro Ser Asp Trp 325 330 335 Ile Gln Val Ala Glu Leu Tyr Gln Ser Leu Ala Glu Gly Asp Lys Asn 340 345 350 Lys Leu Val Pro Leu Pro Ala Cys Leu Arg Thr Ala Met Thr Asp Lys 355 360 365 Phe Ala Gln Phe Asp Glu Tyr Gln Leu Ala Lys Tyr Asn Pro Arg Lys 370 375 380 His Arg Ala Lys Arg His Pro Arg Arg Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Met 385 390 395 400 Glu Pro Pro Phe Ser His Arg Cys Phe Pro Arg Tyr Ile Gly Phe Leu 405 410 415 Arg Glu Glu Gln Arg Lys Phe Glu Lys Ala Gly Asp Thr Val Ser Glu 420 425 430 Lys Lys Asn Pro Pro Arg Phe Thr Leu Lys Lys Leu Val Gln Arg Leu 435 440 445 His Ile His Lys Pro Ala Gln His Val Gln Ala Leu Leu Gly Tyr Arg 450 455 460 Tyr Pro Ser Asn Leu Gln Leu Phe Ser Arg Ser Arg Leu Pro Gly Pro 465 470 475 480 Trp Asp Ser Ser Arg Ala Gly Lys Arg Met Lys Leu Ser Arg Pro Glu 485 490 495 Thr Trp Glu Arg Glu Leu Ser Leu Arg Gly Asn Lys Ala Ser Val Trp 500 505 510 Glu Glu Leu Ile Glu Asn Gly Lys Leu Pro Phe Met Ala Met Leu Arg 515 520 525 Asn Leu Cys Asn Leu Leu Arg Val Gly Ile Ser Ser Arg His His Glu 530 535 540 Leu Ile Leu Gln Arg Leu Gln His Gly Lys Ser Val Ile His Ser Arg 545 550 555 560 Gln Phe Pro Phe Arg Phe Leu Asn Ala His Asp Ala Ile Asp Ala Leu 565 570 575 Glu Ala Gln Leu Arg Asn Gln Ala Leu Pro Phe Pro Ser Asn Ile Thr 580 585 590 Leu Met Arg Arg Ile Leu Thr Arg Asn Glu Lys Asn Arg Pro Arg Arg 595 600 605 Arg Phe Leu Cys His Leu Ser Arg Gln Gln Leu Arg Met Ala Met Arg 610 615 620 Ile Pro Val Leu Tyr Glu Gln Leu Lys Arg Glu Lys Leu Arg Val His 625 630 635 640 Lys Ala Arg Gln Trp Lys Tyr Asp Gly Glu Met Leu Asn Arg Tyr Arg 645 650 655 Gln Ala Leu Glu Thr Ala Val Asn Leu Ser Val Lys His Ser Leu Pro 660 665 670 Leu Leu Pro Gly Arg Thr Val Leu Val Tyr Leu Thr Asp Ala Asn Ala 675 680 685 Asp Arg Leu Cys Pro Lys Ser Asn Pro Gln Gly Pro Pro Leu Asn Tyr 690 695 700 Ala Leu Leu Leu Ile Gly Met Met Ile Thr Arg Ala Glu Gln Val Asp 705 710 715 720 Val Val Leu Cys Gly Gly Asp Thr Leu Lys Thr Ala Val Leu Lys Ala 725 730 735 Glu Glu Gly Ile Leu Lys Thr Ala Ile Lys Leu Gln Ala Gln Val Gln 740 745 750 Glu Phe Asp Glu Asn Asp Gly Trp Ser Leu Asn Thr Phe Gly Lys Tyr 755 760 765 Leu Leu Ser Leu Ala Gly Gln Arg Val Pro Val Asp Arg Val Ile Leu 770 775 780 Leu Gly Gln Ser Met Asp Asp Gly Met Ile Asn Val Ala Lys Gln Leu 785 790 795 800 Tyr Trp Gln Arg Val Asn Ser Lys Cys Leu Phe Val Gly Ile Leu Leu 805 810 815 Arg Arg Val Gln Tyr Leu Ser Thr Asp Leu Asn Pro Asn Asp Val Thr 820 825 830 Leu Ser Gly Cys Thr Asp Ala Ile Leu Lys Phe Ile Ala Glu His Gly 835 840 845 Ala Ser His Leu Leu Glu His Val Gly Gln Met Asp Lys Ile Phe Lys 850 855 860 Ile Pro Pro Pro Pro Gly Lys Thr Gly Val Gln Ser Leu Arg Pro Leu 865 870 875 880 Glu Glu Asp Thr Pro Ser Pro Leu Ala Pro Val Ser Gln Gln Gly Trp 885 890 895 Arg Ser Ile Arg Leu Phe Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Arg Asp Met His Gly 900 905 910 Glu Arg Asp Leu Leu Leu Arg Ser Val Leu Pro Ala Leu Gln Ala Arg 915 920 925 Ala Ala Pro His Arg Ile Ser Leu His Gly Ile Asp Leu Arg Trp Gly 930 935 940 Val Thr Glu Glu Glu Thr Arg Arg Asn Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Cys Leu 945 950 955 960 Gly Glu Val Glu Asn Ala Gln Leu Phe Val Gly Ile Leu Gly Ser Arg 965 970 975 Tyr Gly Tyr Ile Pro Pro Ser Tyr Asn Leu Pro Asp His Pro His Phe 980 985 990 His Trp Ala Gln Gln Tyr Pro Ser Gly Arg Ser Val Thr Glu Met Glu 995 1000 1005 Val Met Gln Phe Leu Asn Arg Asn Gln Arg Leu Gln Pro Ser Ala Gln 1010 1015 1020 Ala Leu Ile Tyr Phe Arg Asp Ser Ser Phe Leu Ser Ser Val Pro Asp 1025 1030 1035 1040 Ala Trp Lys Ser Asp Phe Val Ser Glu Ser Glu Glu Ala Ala Xaa Arg 1045 1050 1055 Ile Ser Glu Leu Lys Ser Tyr Leu Ser Arg Gln Lys Gly Ile Thr Cys 1060 1065 1070 Arg Arg Tyr Pro Cys Glu Trp Gly Gly Val Ala Ala Gly Arg Pro Tyr 1075 1080 1085 Val Gly Gly Leu Glu Glu Phe Gly Gln Leu Val Leu Gln Asp Val Trp 1090 1095 1100 Asn Met Ile Gln Lys Leu Tyr Leu Gln Pro Gly Ala Leu Leu Glu Gln 1105 1110 1115 1120 Pro Val Ser Ile Pro Asp Asp Asp Leu Val Gln Ala Thr Phe Gln Gln 1125 1130 1135 Leu Gln Lys Pro Pro Ser Pro Ala Arg Pro Arg Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr 1140 1145 1150 Val Gln Xaa Leu Met Leu Pro His Gly Arg Leu Ser Leu Val Thr Gly 1155 1160 1165 Gln Ser Gly Gln Gly Lys Thr Ala Phe Leu Ala Ser Leu Val Ser Ala 1170 1175 1180 Leu Gln Ala Pro Asp Gly Ala Lys Val Ala Xaa Leu Val Phe Phe His 1185 1190 1195 1200 Phe Ser Gly Ala Arg Pro Asp Gln Gly Leu Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Arg 1205 1210 1215 Arg Leu Cys Thr Tyr Leu Arg Gly Gln Leu Lys Glu Pro Gly Ala Leu 1220 1225 1230 Pro Ser Thr Tyr Arg Ser Leu Val Trp Glu Leu Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu 1235 1240 1245 Pro Lys Ser Ala Glu Ser Leu His Pro Gly Gln Thr Gln Val Leu Ile 1250 1255 1260 Ile Asp Gly Ala Asp Arg Leu Val Asp Gln Asn Gly Gln Leu Ile Ser 1265 1270 1275 1280 Asp Trp Ile Pro Lys Lys Leu Pro Arg Cys Val His Leu Val Leu Ser 1285 1290 1295 Val Ser Ser Asp Ala Gly Leu Gly Glu Thr Leu Glu Gln Ser Gln Gly 1300 1305 1310 Ala His Val Leu Ala Leu Gly Pro Leu Glu Ala Ser Ala Arg Ala Arg 1315 1320 1325 Leu Val Arg Glu Glu Leu Ala Leu Tyr Gly Lys Arg Leu Glu Glu Ser 1330 1335 1340 Pro Phe Asn Asn Gln Met Arg Leu Leu Leu Val Lys Arg Glu Ser Gly 1345 1350 1355 1360 Arg Pro Leu Tyr Leu Arg Leu Val Thr Asp His Leu Arg Leu Phe Thr 1365 1370 1375 Leu Tyr Glu Gln Val Ser Glu Arg Leu Arg Thr Leu Pro Ala Thr Val 1380 1385 1390 Pro Leu Leu Leu Gln His Ile Leu Ser Thr Leu Glu Lys Glu His Gly 1395 1400 1405 Pro Asp Val Leu Pro Gln Ala Leu Thr Ala Leu Glu Val Thr Arg Ser 1410 1415 1420 Gly Leu Thr Val Asp Gln Leu His Gly Val Leu Ser Val Trp Arg Thr 1425 1430 1435 1440 Leu Pro Lys Gly Thr Lys Ser Trp Glu Glu Ala Val Ala Ala Gly Asn 1445 1450 1455 Ser Gly Asp Pro Tyr Pro Met Gly Pro Phe Ala Cys Leu Val Gln Ser 1460 1465 1470 Leu Arg Ser Leu Leu Gly Glu Gly Pro Leu Glu Arg Pro Gly Ala Arg 1475 1480 1485 Leu Cys Leu Pro Asp Gly Pro Leu Arg Thr Ala Ala Lys Arg Cys Tyr 1490 1495 1500 Gly Lys Arg Pro Gly Leu Glu Asp Thr Ala His Ile Leu Ile Ala Ala 1505 1510 1515 1520 Gln Leu Trp Lys Thr Cys Asp Ala Asp Ala Ser Gly Thr Phe Arg Ser 1525 1530 1535 Cys Pro Pro Glu Ala Leu Gly Asp Leu Pro Tyr His Leu Leu Gln Ser 1540 1545 1550 Gly Asn Arg Gly Leu Leu Ser Lys Phe Leu Thr Asn Leu His Val Val 1555 1560 1565 Ala Ala His Leu Glu Leu Gly Leu Val Ser Arg Leu Leu Glu Ala His 1570 1575 1580 Ala Leu Tyr Ala Ser Ser Val Pro Lys Glu Glu Gln Lys Leu Pro Glu 1585 1590 1595 1600 Ala Asp Val Ala Val Phe Arg Thr Phe Leu Arg Gln Gln Ala Ser Ile 1605 1610 1615 Leu Ser Gln Tyr Pro Arg Leu Leu Pro Gln Gln Ala Ala Asn Gln Pro 1620 1625 1630 Leu Asp Ser Pro Leu Cys His Gln Ala Ser Leu Leu Ser Arg Arg Trp 1635 1640 1645 His Leu Gln His Thr Leu Arg Trp Leu Asn Lys Pro Arg Thr Met Lys 1650 1655 1660 Asn Gln Gln Ser Ser Ser Leu Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Ser Ser Pro Thr 1665 1670 1675 1680 Ala Val Ala Phe Ser Thr Asn Gly Gln Arg Ala Ala Val Gly Thr Ala 1685 1690 1695 Asn Gly Thr Val Tyr Leu Leu Asp Leu Arg Thr Trp Gln Glu Glu Lys 1700 1705 1710 Ser Val Val Ser Gly Cys Asp Gly Ile Ser Ala Cys Leu Phe Leu Ser 1715 1720 1725 Asp Asp Thr Leu Phe Leu Thr Ala Phe Asp Gly Leu Leu Glu Leu Trp 1730 1735 1740 Asp Leu Gln His Gly Cys Arg Val Leu Gln Thr Lys Ala His Gln Tyr 1745 1750 1755 1760 Gln Ile Thr Gly Cys Cys Leu Ser Pro Asp Cys Arg Leu Leu Ala Thr 1765 1770 1775 Val Cys Leu Gly Gly Cys Leu Lys Leu Trp Asp Thr Val Arg Gly Gln 1780 1785 1790 Leu Ala Phe Gln His Thr Tyr Pro Lys Ser Leu Asn Cys Val Ala Phe 1795 1800 1805 His Pro Glu Gly Gln Val Ile Ala Thr Gly Ser Trp Ala Gly Ser Ile 1810 1815 1820 Ser Phe Phe Gln Val Asp Gly Leu Lys Val Thr Lys Asp Leu Gly Ala 1825 1830 1835 1840 Pro Gly Ala Ser Ile Arg Thr Leu Ala Phe Asn Val Pro Gly Gly Val 1845 1850 1855 Val Ala Val Gly Arg Leu Asp Ser Met Val Glu Leu Trp Ala Trp Arg 1860 1865 1870 Glu Gly Ala Arg Leu Ala Ala Phe Pro Ala His His Gly Phe Val Ala 1875 1880 1885 Ala Ala Leu Phe Leu His Ala Gly Cys Gln Leu Leu Thr Ala Gly Glu 1890 1895 1900 Asp Gly Lys Val Gln Val Trp Ser Gly Ser Leu Gly Arg Pro Arg Gly 1905 1910 1915 1920 His Leu Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Ala Leu Ser Val Ala Leu Ser 1925 1930 1935 Pro Asp Gly Asp Arg Val Ala Val Gly Tyr Arg Ala Asp Gly Ile Arg 1940 1945 1950 Ile Tyr Lys Ile Ser Ser Gly Ser Gln Gly Ala Gln Gly Gln Ala Leu 1955 1960 1965 Asp Val Ala Val Ser Ala Leu Ala Trp Leu Ser Pro Lys Val Leu Val 1970 1975 1980 Ser Gly Ala Glu Asp Gly Ser Leu Gln Gly Trp Ala Leu Lys Glu Cys 1985 1990 1995 2000 Ser Leu Gln Ser Leu Trp Leu Leu Ser Arg Phe Gln Lys Pro Val Leu 2005 2010 2015 Gly Leu Ala Thr Ser Gln Glu Leu Leu Ala Ser Ala Ser Glu Asp Phe 2020 2025 2030 Thr Val Gln Leu Trp Pro Arg Gln Leu Leu Thr Arg Pro His Lys Ala 2035 2040 2045 Glu Asp Phe Pro Cys Gly Thr Glu Leu Arg Gly His Glu Gly Pro Val 2050 2055 2060 Ser Cys Cys Ser Phe Ser Thr Asp Gly Gly Ser Leu Ala Thr Gly Gly 2065 2070 2075 2080 Arg Asp Arg Ser Leu Leu Cys Trp Asp Val Arg Thr Pro Lys Thr Pro 2085 2090 2095 Val Leu Ile His Ser Phe Pro Ala Cys His Arg Asp Trp Val Thr Gly 2100 2105 2110 Cys Ala Trp Thr Lys Asp Asn Leu Leu Ile Ser Cys Ser Ser Asp Gly 2115 2120 2125 Ser Val Gly Leu Trp Asp Pro Glu Ser Gly Gln Arg Leu Gly Gln Phe 2130 2135 2140 Leu Gly His Gln Ser Ala Val Ser Ala Val Ala Ala Val Glu Glu His 2145 2150 2155 2160 Val Val Ser Val Ser Arg Asp Gly Thr Leu Lys Val Trp Asp His Gln 2165 2170 2175 Gly Val Glu Leu Thr Ser Ile Pro Ala His Ser Gly Pro Ile Ser His 2180 2185 2190 Cys Ala Ala Ala Met Glu Pro Arg Ala Ala Gly Gln Pro Gly Ser Glu 2195 2200 2205 Leu Leu Val Val Thr Val Gly Leu Asp Gly Ala Thr Arg Leu Trp His 2210 2215 2220 Pro Leu Leu Val Cys Gln Thr His Thr Leu Leu Gly His Ser Gly Pro 2225 2230 2235 2240 Val Arg Ala Ala Ala Val Ser Glu Thr Ser Gly Leu Met Leu Thr Ala 2245 2250 2255 Ser Glu Asp Gly Ser Val Arg Leu Trp Gln Val Pro Lys Glu Ala Asp 2260 2265 2270 Asp Thr Cys Ile Pro Arg Ser Ser Ala Ala Val Thr Ala Val Ala Trp 2275 2280 2285 Ala Pro Asp Gly Ser Met Ala Val Ser Gly Asn Gln Ala Gly Glu Leu 2290 2295 2300 Ile Leu Trp Gln Glu Ala Lys Ala Val Ala Thr Ala Gln Ala Pro Gly 2305 2310 2315 2320 His Ile Gly Ala Leu Ile Trp Ser Ser Ala His Thr Phe Phe Val Leu 2325 2330 2335 Ser Ala Asp Glu Lys Ile Ser Glu Trp Gln Val Lys Leu Arg Lys Gly 2340 2345 2350 Ser Ala Pro Gly Asn Leu Ser Leu His Leu Asn Arg Ile Leu Gln Glu 2355 2360 2365 Asp Leu Gly Val Leu Thr Ser Leu Asp Trp Ala Pro Asp Gly His Phe 2370 2375 2380 Leu Ile Leu Ala Lys Ala Asp Leu Lys Leu Leu Cys Met Lys Pro Gly 2385 2390 2395 2400 Asp Ala Pro Ser Glu Ile Trp Ser Ser Tyr Thr Glu Asn Pro Met Ile 2405 2410 2415 Leu Ser Thr His Lys Glu Tyr Gly Ile Phe Val Leu Gln Pro Lys Asp 2420 2425 2430 Pro Gly Val Leu Ser Phe Leu Arg Gln Lys Glu Ser Gly Glu Phe Glu 2435 2440 2445 Glu Arg Leu Asn Phe Asp Ile Asn Leu Glu Asn Pro Ser Arg Thr Leu 2450 2455 2460 Ile Ser Ile Thr Gln Ala Lys Pro Glu Ser Glu Ser Ser Phe Leu Cys 2465 2470 2475 2480 Ala Ser Ser Asp Gly Ile Leu Trp Asn Leu Ala Lys Cys Ser Pro Glu 2485 2490 2495 Gly Glu Trp Thr Thr Gly Asn Met Trp Gln Lys Lys Ala Asn Thr Pro 2500 2505 2510 Glu Thr Gln Thr Pro Gly Thr Asp Pro Ser Thr Cys Arg Glu Ser Asp 2515 2520 2525 Ala Ser Met Asp Ser Asp Ala Ser Met Asp Ser Glu Pro Thr Pro His 2530 2535 2540 Leu Lys Thr Arg Gln Arg Arg Lys Ile His Ser Gly Ser Val Thr Ala 2545 2550 2555 2560 Leu His Val Leu Pro Glu Leu Leu Val Thr Ala Ser Lys Asp Arg Asp 2565 2570 2575 Val Lys Leu Trp Glu Arg Pro Ser Met Gln Leu Leu Gly Leu Phe Arg 2580 2585 2590 Cys Glu Gly Ser Val Ser Cys Leu Glu Pro Trp Leu Gly Ala Asn Ser 2595 2600 2605 Thr Leu Gln Leu Ala Val Gly Asp Val Gln Gly Asn Val Tyr Phe Leu 2610 2615 2620 Asn Trp Glu 2625 2629 amino acids amino acid unknown unknown protein unknown 4 Met Glu Lys Leu Cys Gly His Val Pro Gly His Ser Asp Ile Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Lys Asn Arg Cys Leu Thr Met Leu Pro Asp Leu Gln Pro Leu Glu 20 25 30 Lys Ile His Gly His Arg Ser Val His Ser Asp Ile Leu Ser Leu Glu 35 40 45 Asn Gln Cys Leu Thr Met Leu Ser Asp Leu Gln Pro Thr Glu Arg Ile 50 55 60 Asp Gly His Ile Ser Val His Pro Asp Ile Leu Ser Leu Glu Asn Arg 65 70 75 80 Cys Leu Thr Met Leu Pro Asp Leu Gln Pro Leu Glu Lys Leu Cys Gly 85 90 95 His Met Ser Ser His Pro Asp Val Leu Ser Leu Glu Asn Gln Cys Leu 100 105 110 Ala Thr Leu Pro Thr Val Lys Ser Thr Ala Leu Thr Ser Pro Leu Leu 115 120 125 Gln Gly Leu His Ile Ser His Thr Ala Gln Ala Asp Leu His Ser Leu 130 135 140 Lys Thr Ser Asn Cys Leu Leu Pro Glu Leu Pro Thr Lys Lys Thr Pro 145 150 155 160 Cys Phe Ser Glu Glu Leu Asp Leu Pro Pro Gly Pro Arg Ala Leu Lys 165 170 175 Ser Met Ser Ala Thr Ala Gln Val Gln Glu Val Ala Leu Gly Gln Trp 180 185 190 Cys Val Ser Lys Glu Lys Glu Phe Gln Glu Glu Glu Ser Thr Glu Val 195 200 205 Pro Met Pro Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Glu Ala 210 215 220 Pro Val Leu Lys Leu Thr Ser Gly Asp Ser Gly Phe His Pro Glu Thr 225 230 235 240 Thr Asp Gln Val Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Met Ala Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu 245 250 255 Cys Ser Ala Leu Ala Ser Asn Val Asn Val Lys Asp Ala Ser Asp Leu 260 265 270 Thr Arg Ala Ser Ile Leu Glu Val Cys Ser Ala Leu Ala Ser Leu Glu 275 280 285 Pro Glu Phe Ile Leu Lys Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Arg Gln Gln Leu Asn 290 295 300 Leu Arg Asp Ile Ala Asn Thr Val Leu Ala Val Ala Ala Leu Leu Pro 305 310 315 320 Ala Cys Arg Pro His Val Arg Arg Tyr Tyr Ser Ala Ile Val His Leu 325 330 335 Pro Ser Asp Trp Ile Gln Val Ala Glu Phe Tyr Gln Ser Leu Ala Glu 340 345 350 Gly Asp Glu Lys Lys Leu Val Ser Leu Pro Ala Cys Leu Arg Ala Ala 355 360 365 Met Thr Asp Lys Phe Ala Glu Phe Asp Glu Tyr Gln Leu Ala Lys Tyr 370 375 380 Asn Pro Arg Lys His Arg Ser Lys Arg Arg Ser Arg Gln Pro Pro Arg 385 390 395 400 Pro Gln Lys Thr Glu Arg Pro Phe Ser Glu Arg Gly Lys Cys Phe Pro 405 410 415 Lys Ser Leu Trp Pro Leu Lys Asn Glu Gln Ile Thr Phe Glu Ala Ala 420 425 430 Tyr Asn Ala Met Pro Glu Lys Asn Arg Leu Pro Arg Phe Thr Leu Lys 435 440 445 Lys Leu Val Glu Tyr Leu His Ile His Lys Pro Ala Gln His Val Gln 450 455 460 Ala Leu Leu Gly Tyr Arg Tyr Pro Ala Thr Leu Glu Leu Phe Ser Arg 465 470 475 480 Ser His Leu Pro Gly Pro Trp Glu Ser Ser Arg Ala Gly Gln Arg Met 485 490 495 Lys Leu Arg Arg Pro Glu Thr Trp Glu Arg Glu Leu Ser Leu Arg Gly 500 505 510 Asn Lys Ala Ser Val Trp Glu Glu Leu Ile Asp Asn Gly Lys Leu Pro 515 520 525 Phe Met Ala Met Leu Arg Asn Leu Cys Asn Leu Leu Arg Thr Gly Ile 530 535 540 Ser Ala Arg His His Glu Leu Val Leu Gln Arg Leu Gln His Glu Lys 545 550 555 560 Ser Val Val His Ser Arg Gln Phe Pro Phe Arg Phe Leu Asn Ala His 565 570 575 Asp Ser Ile Asp Lys Leu Glu Ala Gln Leu Arg Ser Lys Ala Ser Pro 580 585 590 Phe Pro Ser Asn Thr Thr Leu Met Lys Arg Ile Met Ile Arg Asn Ser 595 600 605 Lys Lys Asn Arg Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Lys His Leu Cys Thr Leu Thr 610 615 620 Arg Arg Gln Leu Arg Ala Ala Met Thr Ile Pro Val Met Tyr Glu Gln 625 630 635 640 Leu Lys Arg Glu Lys Leu Arg Leu His Lys Ala Arg Gln Trp Asn Cys 645 650 655 Asp Val Glu Leu Leu Glu Arg Tyr Arg Gln Ala Leu Glu Thr Ala Val 660 665 670 Asn Leu Ser Val Lys His Asn Leu Ser Pro Met Pro Gly Arg Thr Leu 675 680 685 Leu Val Tyr Leu Thr Asp Ala Asn Ala Asp Arg Leu Cys Pro Lys Ser 690 695 700 His Ser Gln Gly Pro Pro Leu Asn Tyr Val Leu Leu Leu Ile Gly Met 705 710 715 720 Met Val Ala Arg Ala Glu Gln Val Thr Val Cys Leu Cys Gly Gly Gly 725 730 735 Phe Val Lys Thr Pro Val Leu Thr Ala Asp Glu Gly Ile Leu Lys Thr 740 745 750 Ala Ile Lys Leu Gln Ala Gln Val Gln Glu Leu Glu Gly Asn Asp Glu 755 760 765 Trp Pro Leu Asp Thr Phe Gly Lys Tyr Leu Leu Ser Leu Ala Val Gln 770 775 780 Arg Thr Pro Ile Asp Arg Val Ile Leu Phe Gly Gln Arg Met Asp Thr 785 790 795 800 Glu Leu Leu Lys Val Ala Lys Gln Ile Ile Trp Gln His Val Asn Ser 805 810 815 Lys Cys Leu Phe Val Gly Val Leu Leu Gln Lys Thr Gln Tyr Ile Ser 820 825 830 Pro Asn Leu Asn Pro Asn Asp Val Thr Leu Ser Gly Cys Thr Asp Gly 835 840 845 Ile Leu Lys Phe Ile Ala Glu His Gly Ala Ser Arg Leu Leu Glu His 850 855 860 Val Gly Gln Leu Asp Lys Leu Phe Lys Ile Pro Pro Pro Pro Gly Lys 865 870 875 880 Thr Gln Ala Pro Ser Leu Arg Pro Leu Glu Glu Asn Ile Pro Gly Pro 885 890 895 Leu Gly Pro Ile Ser Gln His Gly Trp Arg Asn Ile Arg Leu Phe Ile 900 905 910 Ser Ser Thr Phe Arg Asp Met His Gly Glu Arg Asp Leu Leu Met Arg 915 920 925 Ser Val Leu Pro Ala Leu Gln Ala Arg Val Phe Pro His Arg Ile Ser 930 935 940 Leu His Ala Ile Asp Leu Arg Trp Gly Ile Thr Glu Glu Glu Thr Arg 945 950 955 960 Arg Asn Arg Gln Leu Glu Val Cys Leu Gly Glu Val Glu Asn Ser Gln 965 970 975 Leu Phe Val Gly Ile Leu Gly Ser Arg Tyr Gly Tyr Ile Pro Pro Ser 980 985 990 Tyr Asp Leu Pro Asp His Pro His Phe His Trp Thr His Glu Tyr Pro 995 1000 1005 Ser Gly Arg Ser Val Thr Glu Met Glu Val Met Gln Phe Leu Asn Arg 1010 1015 1020 Gly Gln Arg Ser Gln Pro Ser Ala Gln Ala Leu Ile Tyr Phe Arg Asp 1025 1030 1035 1040 Pro Asp Phe Leu Ser Ser Val Pro Asp Ala Trp Lys Pro Asp Phe Ile 1045 1050 1055 Ser Glu Ser Glu Glu Ala Ala His Arg Val Ser Glu Leu Lys Arg Tyr 1060 1065 1070 Leu His Glu Gln Lys Glu Val Thr Cys Arg Ser Tyr Ser Cys Glu Trp 1075 1080 1085 Gly Gly Val Ala Ala Gly Arg Pro Tyr Thr Gly Gly Leu Glu Glu Phe 1090 1095 1100 Gly Gln Leu Val Leu Gln Asp Val Trp Ser Met Ile Gln Lys Gln His 1105 1110 1115 1120 Leu Gln Pro Gly Ala Gln Leu Glu Gln Pro Thr Ser Ile Ser Glu Asp 1125 1130 1135 Asp Leu Ile Gln Thr Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Lys Thr Pro Thr Ser Pro 1140 1145 1150 Ala Arg Pro Arg Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Val Gln Gln Leu Leu Leu Pro 1155 1160 1165 His Gly Arg Leu Ser Leu Val Thr Gly Gln Ala Gly Gln Gly Lys Thr 1170 1175 1180 Ala Phe Leu Ala Ser Leu Val Ser Ala Leu Lys Val Pro Asp Gln Pro 1185 1190 1195 1200 Asn Glu Pro Pro Phe Val Phe Phe His Phe Ala Ala Ala Arg Pro Asp 1205 1210 1215 Gln Cys Leu Ala Leu Asn Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu Cys Thr His Leu Arg 1220 1225 1230 Gln Lys Leu Gly Glu Leu Ser Ala Leu Pro Ser Thr Tyr Arg Gly Leu 1235 1240 1245 Val Trp Glu Leu Gln Gln Lys Leu Leu Leu Lys Phe Ala Gln Ser Leu 1250 1255 1260 Gln Pro Ala Gln Thr Leu Val Leu Ile Ile Asp Gly Ala Asp Lys Leu 1265 1270 1275 1280 Val Asp Arg Asn Gly Gln Leu Ile Ser Asp Trp Ile Pro Lys Ser Leu 1285 1290 1295 Pro Arg Arg Val His Leu Val Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Asp Ser Gly Leu 1300 1305 1310 Gly Glu Thr Leu Gln Gln Ser Gln Gly Ala Tyr Val Val Ala Leu Gly 1315 1320 1325 Ser Leu Val Pro Ser Ser Arg Ala Gln Leu Val Arg Glu Glu Leu Ala 1330 1335 1340 Leu Tyr Gly Lys Arg Leu Glu Glu Ser Pro Phe Asn Asn Gln Met Arg 1345 1350 1355 1360 Leu Leu Leu Ala Lys Gln Gly Ser Ser Leu Pro Leu Tyr Leu His Leu 1365 1370 1375 Val Thr Asp Tyr Leu Arg Leu Phe Thr Leu Tyr Glu Gln Val Ser Glu 1380 1385 1390 Arg Leu Arg Thr Leu Pro Ala Thr Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Gln His Ile 1395 1400 1405 Leu Ser Thr Leu Glu Gln Glu His Gly His Asp Val Leu Pro Gln Ala 1410 1415 1420 Leu Thr Ala Leu Glu Val Thr Arg Ser Gly Leu Thr Val Asp Gln Leu 1425 1430 1435 1440 His Ala Ile Leu Ser Thr Trp Leu Ile Leu Pro Lys Glu Thr Lys Ser 1445 1450 1455 Trp Glu Glu Val Leu Ala Ala Ser His Ser Gly Asn Pro Phe Pro Leu 1460 1465 1470 Cys Pro Phe Ala Tyr Leu Val Gln Ser Leu Arg Ser Leu Leu Gly Glu 1475 1480 1485 Gly Pro Val Glu Arg Pro Gly Ala Arg Leu Cys Leu Ser Asp Gly Pro 1490 1495 1500 Leu Arg Thr Thr Ile Lys Arg Arg Tyr Gly Lys Arg Leu Gly Leu Glu 1505 1510 1515 1520 Lys Thr Ala His Val Leu Ile Ala Ala His Leu Trp Lys Thr Cys Asp 1525 1530 1535 Pro Asp Ala Ser Gly Thr Phe Arg Ser Cys Pro Pro Glu Ala Leu Lys 1540 1545 1550 Asp Leu Pro Tyr His Leu Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn His Gly Leu Leu Ala 1555 1560 1565 Glu Phe Leu Thr Asn Leu His Val Val Ala Ala Tyr Leu Glu Val Gly 1570 1575 1580 Leu Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Glu Ala His Val Leu Tyr Ala Ser Ser Lys 1585 1590 1595 1600 Pro Glu Ala Asn Gln Lys Leu Pro Ala Ala Asp Val Ala Val Phe His 1605 1610 1615 Thr Phe Leu Arg Gln Gln Ala Ser Leu Leu Thr Gln Tyr Pro Leu Leu 1620 1625 1630 Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala Ala Ser Gln Pro Glu Glu Ser Pro Val Cys Cys 1635 1640 1645 Gln Ala Pro Leu Leu Thr Gln Arg Trp His Asp Gln Phe Thr Leu Lys 1650 1655 1660 Trp Ile Asn Lys Pro Gln Thr Leu Lys Gly Gln Gln Ser Leu Ser Leu 1665 1670 1675 1680 Thr Met Ser Ser Ser Pro Thr Ala Val Ala Phe Ser Pro Asn Gly Gln 1685 1690 1695 Arg Ala Ala Val Gly Thr Ala Ser Gly Thr Ile Tyr Leu Leu Asn Leu 1700 1705 1710 Lys Thr Trp Gln Glu Glu Lys Ala Val Val Ser Gly Cys Asp Gly Ile 1715 1720 1725 Ser Ser Phe Ala Phe Leu Ser Asp Thr Ala Leu Phe Leu Thr Thr Phe 1730 1735 1740 Asp Gly His Leu Glu Leu Trp Asp Leu Gln His Gly Cys Trp Val Phe 1745 1750 1755 1760 Gln Thr Lys Ala His Gln Tyr Gln Ile Thr Gly Cys Cys Leu Ser Pro 1765 1770 1775 Asp Arg Arg Leu Leu Ala Thr Val Cys Leu Gly Gly Tyr Leu Lys Leu 1780 1785 1790 Trp Asp Thr Val Arg Gly Gln Leu Ala Phe Gln Tyr Thr His Pro Lys 1795 1800 1805 Ser Leu Asn Cys Val Ala Phe His Pro Glu Gly Gln Val Val Ala Thr 1810 1815 1820 Gly Ser Trp Ala Gly Ser Ile Thr Phe Phe Gln Ala Asp Gly Leu Lys 1825 1830 1835 1840 Val Thr Lys Glu Leu Gly Ala Pro Gly Pro Ser Val Cys Ser Leu Ala 1845 1850 1855 Phe Asn Lys Pro Gly Lys Ile Val Ala Val Gly Arg Ile Asp Gly Thr 1860 1865 1870 Val Glu Leu Trp Ala Trp Gln Glu Gly Ala Arg Leu Ala Ala Phe Pro 1875 1880 1885 Ala Gln Cys Gly Cys Val Ser Ala Val Leu Phe Leu His Ala Gly Asp 1890 1895 1900 Arg Phe Leu Thr Ala Gly Glu Asp Gly Lys Ala Gln Leu Trp Ser Gly 1905 1910 1915 1920 Phe Leu Gly Arg Pro Arg Gly Cys Leu Gly Ser Leu Pro Leu Ser Pro 1925 1930 1935 Ala Leu Ser Val Ala Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Asp Gln Val Ala Val Gly 1940 1945 1950 Tyr Arg Glu Asp Gly Ile Asn Ile Tyr Lys Ile Ser Ser Gly Ser Gln 1955 1960 1965 Gly Pro Gln His Gln Glu Leu Asn Val Ala Val Ser Ala Leu Val Trp 1970 1975 1980 Leu Ser Pro Ser Val Leu Val Ser Gly Ala Glu Asp Gly Ser Leu His 1985 1990 1995 2000 Gly Trp Met Phe Lys Gly Asp Ser Leu His Ser Leu Trp Leu Leu Ser 2005 2010 2015 Arg Tyr Gln Lys Pro Val Leu Gly Leu Ala Ala Ser Arg Glu Leu Met 2020 2025 2030 Ala Ala Ala Ser Glu Asp Phe Thr Val Arg Leu Trp Pro Arg Gln Leu 2035 2040 2045 Leu Thr Gln Pro His Val His Ala Val Glu Leu Pro Cys Cys Ala Glu 2050 2055 2060 Leu Arg Gly His Glu Gly Pro Val Cys Cys Cys Ser Phe Ser Pro Asp 2065 2070 2075 2080 Gly Gly Ile Leu Ala Thr Ala Gly Arg Asp Arg Asn Leu Leu Cys Trp 2085 2090 2095 Asp Met Lys Ile Ala Gln Ala Pro Leu Leu Ile His Thr Phe Ser Ser 2100 2105 2110 Cys His Arg Asp Trp Ile Thr Gly Cys Ala Trp Thr Lys Asp Asn Ile 2115 2120 2125 Leu Val Ser Cys Ser Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Gly Leu Trp Asn Pro Glu 2130 2135 2140 Ala Gly Gln Gln Leu Gly Gln Phe Ser Gly His Gln Ser Ala Val Ser 2145 2150 2155 2160 Ala Val Val Ala Val Glu Glu His Ile Val Ser Val Ser Arg Asp Gly 2165 2170 2175 Thr Leu Lys Val Trp Asp His Gln Gly Val Glu Leu Thr Ser Ile Pro 2180 2185 2190 Ala His Ser Gly Pro Ile Ser Gln Cys Ala Ala Ala Leu Glu Pro Arg 2195 2200 2205 Pro Gly Gly Gln Pro Gly Ser Glu Leu Leu Val Val Thr Val Gly Leu 2210 2215 2220 Asp Gly Ala Thr Lys Leu Trp His Pro Leu Leu Val Cys Gln Ile Arg 2225 2230 2235 2240 Thr Leu Gln Gly His Ser Gly Pro Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Ala Ser Glu 2245 2250 2255 Ala Ser Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Ser Asp Asp Ser Ser Val Gln Leu Trp 2260 2265 2270 Gln Ile Pro Lys Glu Ala Asp Asp Ser Tyr Lys Pro Arg Ser Ser Val 2275 2280 2285 Ala Ile Thr Ala Val Ala Trp Ala Pro Asp Gly Ser Met Val Val Ser 2290 2295 2300 Gly Asn Glu Ala Gly Glu Leu Thr Leu Trp Gln Gln Ala Lys Ala Val 2305 2310 2315 2320 Ala Thr Ala Gln Ala Pro Gly Arg Val Ser His Leu Ile Trp Tyr Ser 2325 2330 2335 Ala Asn Ser Phe Phe Val Leu Ser Ala Asn Glu Asn Val Ser Glu Trp 2340 2345 2350 Gln Val Gly Leu Arg Lys Gly Ser Thr Ser Thr Ser Ser Ser Leu His 2355 2360 2365 Leu Lys Arg Val Leu Gln Glu Asp Trp Gly Val Leu Thr Gly Leu Gly 2370 2375 2380 Leu Ala Pro Asp Gly Gln Ser Leu Ile Leu Met Lys Glu Asp Val Glu 2385 2390 2395 2400 Leu Leu Glu Met Lys Pro Gly Ser Ile Pro Ser Ser Ile Cys Arg Arg 2405 2410 2415 Tyr Gly Val His Ser Ser Ile Leu Cys Thr Ser Lys Glu Tyr Gly Leu 2420 2425 2430 Phe Tyr Leu Gln Gln Gly Asp Ser Gly Leu Leu Ser Ile Leu Glu Gln 2435 2440 2445 Lys Glu Ser Gly Glu Phe Glu Glu Ile Leu Asp Phe Asn Leu Asn Leu 2450 2455 2460 Asn Asn Pro Asn Gly Ser Pro Val Ser Ile Thr Gln Ala Lys Pro Glu 2465 2470 2475 2480 Ser Glu Ser Ser Leu Leu Cys Ala Thr Ser Asp Gly Met Leu Trp Asn 2485 2490 2495 Leu Ser Glu Cys Thr Ser Glu Gly Glu Trp Ile Val Asp Asn Ile Trp 2500 2505 2510 Gln Lys Lys Ala Lys Lys Pro Lys Thr Gln Thr Leu Glu Thr Glu Leu 2515 2520 2525 Ser Pro His Ser Glu Leu Asp Phe Ser Ile Asp Cys Trp Ile Asp Pro 2530 2535 2540 Thr Asn Leu Lys Ala Gln Gln Cys Lys Lys Ile His Leu Gly Ser Val 2545 2550 2555 2560 Thr Ala Leu His Val Leu Pro Gly Leu Leu Val Thr Ala Ser Lys Asp 2565 2570 2575 Arg Asp Val Lys Leu Trp Glu Arg Pro Ser Met Gln Leu Leu Gly Leu 2580 2585 2590 Phe Arg Cys Glu Gly Pro Val Ser Cys Leu Glu Pro Trp Met Glu Pro 2595 2600 2605 Ser Ser Pro Leu Gln Leu Ala Val Gly Asp Thr Gln Gly Asn Leu Tyr 2610 2615 2620 Phe Leu Ser Trp Glu 2625 26 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 5 CCTCTGCGGC CGCTACANNN NNNNNT 26 14 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 6 GGAGACGCCG GCGA 14 16 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 7 TCGACCCACG CGTCCG 16 12 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 8 GGGTGCGCAG GC 12 18 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 9 TGTAAAACGA CGGCCAGT 18 18 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 10 CAGGAAACAG CTATGACC 18 19 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 11 CAATTAACCC TCACTAAAG 19 154 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligo nucleotide” unknown 12 GGTACCGCCA GCCGAGCCAC ATCGCTCAGA CACCATGATC GCAAATGTGA ATATTGCTCA 60 GGAACAAAAG CTTATTTCTG AAGAAGACTT GGCTCAGGAA CAAAAGCTTA TTTCTGAAGA 120 AGACTTGGCT CAGCAGAGTG GCGGAGGACT CGAG 154 

We claim:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a telomerase RNA binding protein, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule that is the complement of a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 under high stringency conditions of 0.2×SSC and 0.1 percent SDS at 55-65° C.; (b) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 2: and (d) a nucleic acid molecule having at least 90% identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 over the full length of said sequence.
 2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that is the complement of a nucleic acid that hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 under high stringency conditions of 0.2×SSC and 0.1 percent SDS at 55-65° C., wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a telomerase RNA binding protein.
 3. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 4. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 2. 5. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 3. 6. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 4. 7. A process of producing a telomerase RNA binding protein comprising the steps of: (a) expressing the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 in a suitable host to synthesize a telomerase RNA binding protein; and (b) isolating the telomerase RNA binding protein.
 8. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that is the complement of the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 9. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a telomerase RNA binding protein wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule has at least 90% identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 over the full length of said sequence. 